An elderly Hamilton man is being treated in hospital with minor injuries including burns to his face after an area of his basement apartment caught fire, Monday night.

The blaze broke out shortly after 9 p.m. at 47 Fielding Crescent between Upper Sherman Avenue and Upper Gage Avenue. The building is a three-storey house with four apartments.

The man was attempting to light his wood fireplace but nearby papers and other materials also caught fire.

Firefighters arrived and put out the fire quickly.

“The fire was going in the basement unit,” said Hamilton Fire spokesperson Claudio Mostacci. “There was heavy smoke throughout the unit.”

He added, the other apartments were empty at the time of the fire.

The fire caused about $25,000 in damages.

The man is being treated in hospital for smoke inhalation and burns to his face.