1 person sent to hospital after a fire at a Barton Street East apartment building

One person was sent to hospital after a fire tore through an apartment in Hamilton's central lower city Monday afternoon.

Firefighters were called to 319 Barton St. E. around 3:21 p.m. following reports of a fire and that someone might still be inside the building, Chief Dave Cunliffe of the Hamilton Fire Department said in a media release.

Crews found "heavy smoke" pouring from a second-storey unit and headed inside to search, he said.

"On the second floor crews encountered high heat, heavy smoke and flames."

The firefighters determined the occupant had been able to get out, so they focused on dousing the flames and the fire was quickly brought under control, the chief said.

The fire caused "significant damage" to one of the apartments, he said, and other parts of the building suffered smoke and water damage too.

Cunliffe said paramedics treated one person at the scene, before transporting that person to hospital. No one else was injured.

Investigators are still determining the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.