11 displaced following fire in Ottawa's Lowertown neighbourhood

Ottawa Fire says a fire that started outside of a building on Clarence Street Thursday morning extended to the back of the building. (Scott Stilborn/Ottawa Fire Service)

Eleven people have been displaced by an overnight fire in Ottawa's Lowertown neighbourhood.

Ottawa Fire Services says 9-1-1 dispatch received multiple 9-1-1 calls at approximately 3:40 a.m. Thursday reporting a fire outside of a six-unit apartment building in the 100 block of Clarence Street, with the fire extending to the back of the building.

Photos on social media show significant damage to the back of the three-storey building, with the damage extending from the ground to the roof.

Ottawa fire says the quick action by firefighters prevented the fire from "consuming an entire multi-unit structure."

"Firefighters initiated a fast attack and advanced a hose line to the back of the building. The fire had spread into part of the attic space at the back of the structure so firefighters pulled down ceilings to extinguish the flames," fire officials said.

"A thermal imaging camera was used to check for any hot spots that would need to be extinguished."

No one was hurt.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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