26 people displaced following early-morning fire at Good Shepherd supportive housing

A non-profit housing provider in Hamilton says 26 people have been displaced following a fire Tuesday at one of its location.

Hamilton's fire chief Dave Cunliffe said the department responded at 6:39 a.m. to a fire at Good Shepherd's Mathias Place, a support housing program, at 369 Main St. W.

"Firefighters found smoke on the fourth floor of the building and a fire in unit 405," said Cunliffe Tuesday morning in a media release.

The fire department brought in units from across the city and were able to "quickly knock down the fire, with the assistance of the sprinkler system that had activated," he said. 

Arrest made in connection to fire

While Cunliffe said a cause for the fire was not known was not yet known, Hamilton police are investigating. Public information officer Adam Kimber told CBC Hamilton in an email a 61-year-old Hamilton man was arrested Tuesday in connection to the fire but police could not provide further details.

There were no injuries reported, however, the sprinkler system caused "significant flooding" on the building. Hydro was also cut to the building, making tenants unable to return at this time, Cunliffe said.

"Damage estimates are expected to be significant due to the amount of water damage the building has sustained," he said.

According to a statement from Good Shepherd, residents of the building will be staying at another of its locations in Hamilton until Saturday. 

"Good Shepherd is relieved that no injuries were reported," it said.