Fire on James Street North started in restaurant kitchen: fire department

Black smoke billowed out of a downtown Hamilton building Thursday afternoon, as multiple fire trucks attended to a fire that originated in the kitchen of a popular rotisserie chicken restaurant on James Street North, according to the fire department. 

Crews were called around noon to a fire in the building that houses Charred restaurant. They found it had spread through cooking system ductwork into the building's second and third floors, Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe said in a media statement.

Tenants evacuated the building and no injuries were reported, he said.

"Given the amount of damage that the building has sustained the occupants will not be returning for the short term," he added. 

Part of James Street North remained closed north of Cannon Street as of late afternoon. 

'A very stubborn fire'

Earlier in the day, multiple fire trucks and police vehicles rushed down Cannon Street from the nearby John Street fire station to get to the scene, causing confusion among vehicles stopped at the red light at James Street North, who had to pull in various directions to allow the trucks to pass along the busy one-way street.

Firefighters got to work quickly after arriving, dragging hoses into the building through a side door from the alley just south of Christ's Church Cathedral.

They also extended a ladder from one of the trucks onto the top of the building, and at least two firefighters could be seen climbing onto the building's roof.

It took 30 minutes to bring the fire under control, Cunliffe said.

"This was a very stubborn fire as it was travelling between the second and third levels in the floor and wall cavities," Cunliffe said. "At the time of writing, firefighters are still on scene checking for hot spots and checking air quality in the building."

The smell of smoke was thick along James Street North earlier on Thursday, becoming pungent close to the scene. Smoke could be seen coming out of apartment windows on the second and third floor. 

The restaurant sits next to the shop The Pale Blue Dot. Academica Hall, a large bar, is also housed in the back of the same building. It was unclear if other attached businesses were impacted. 

The fire department said the cost of the damage had not yet been determined.