Fire in Hamilton apartment building, 1 person in hospital

One man was taken to hospital with critical injuries today following a fire in Hamilton. The fire started at about 2 am in an apartment on the 7th floor of this building at 95 Hess Street South.

Firefighters found one man with burns to his body and face. He was taken to Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, described as being in “grave to critical condition.”

Firefighters reported thick smoke and intense heat in the apartment.

With the threat of smoke spreading, other tenants were told not to leave their apartments. Residents say an announcement came over the building intercom telling them to stay in their units.

Fires have broken out in this building before. In 2017 flames burned through 2 apartments and damaged others. In 2020 one man died in a fire in the building.

The blaze today was contained to 1 unit. The cause of the fire is under investigation.