Firefighters battled a major blaze in Downtown Hamilton on Saturday morning.
Our crews are working at a multiple alarm structure fire at 206 King St. W. Large vacant building well involved. Crews will be on scene for some time. pic.twitter.com/4Jar6GvMsU
— Hamilton Fire Department (@HamiltonFireDep) June 18, 2022
Hamilton Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe said three aerial units, and as many as 45 firefighters at one point, battled the multiple alarm structure fire which involved a vacant commercial building at King and Caroline Streets.
Cunliffe said they received the call at 6:02 a.m.
He added that no one was injured, but walls on all four sides of the former Hamilton Store Fixtures collapsed, and crews will be on scene throughout the day and into Saturday evening.
Ongoing operations at 206 King St. W. With heavy smoke conditions. We request area residents to stay inside and keep all your windows closed.
— Hamilton Fire Department (@HamiltonFireDep) June 18, 2022
“This is a century building”, said Cunliffe, “heavy wood timber inside, so heavy fire load and that’s what created a deep seated fire for us.”
There no word yet on cause, but Cunliffe said the fire marshall’s office has been notified.
A fire has destroyed that old supply store at the corner of King & Caroline in #HamOnt. Chief will be updating media at the scene at 10am, I’ll be there. @AM900CHML pic.twitter.com/CsKXOYwJtb
— Lisa Polewski (@lisa_polewski) June 18, 2022
The fire briefly spread to a neighbouring building at 20 George St.
“While we were fighting this fire, we had a fire directly to the south on one of the balconies”, said Cunliffe, “we got that fire out with minimal damage to the balcony.
Major Fire on now at King and Caroline (NE). Former Ham Store Fixture collapsing King and Caroline closed in the area. Chief just shared wall collapse etc. PLUS tires on fire on a George Street balcony.
— Jason Farr (@jasonfarrhamont) June 18, 2022
Heavy smoke from the fire drifted east, and even across Hamilton mountain on Saturday morning.
For a period of time, residents were urged to keep their windows closed.
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