By Maryanne Firth, The Tribune

Sunday, January 13, 2013 5:13:01 EST PM

More than 60 residents were evacuated from Riverside Terrace on Sunday morning after a fire broke out in one of its Riverside Dr. apartments. One cat died.

WELLAND - More than 60 people were evacuated from their homes Sunday morning after fire broke out in a Riverside Terrace apartment building.

Welland Fire and Emergency Services, Niagara Regional Police and Niagara EMS were called to the scene at 8:18 a.m. following reports of a structure fire.

Upon arrival, fire crews observed flames erupting from the window of a single apartment on the building’s second floor, said Welland deputy fire Chief Brian Kennedy.

“There were heavy heat and smoke conditions throughout the whole floor of the east wing,” Kennedy said. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the single unit where it began. No one was in the apartment at the time.

Despite the quick action of fire crews, the east wing of the building — at one time Welland’s hospital — sustained heavy smoke and water damage on all floors. In total 42 volunteer and professional firefighters were called in to assist.

Investigation into the cause of the fire is still in the initial stages, Kennedy said, adding a cause had yet to be determined. He was also unable to provide a damage estimate.

Due to the condition of the building, the fire department required a full evacuation of the more than 60 residents who were home at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported.

Welland Transit was called in to provide a bus to shelter the residents while fire crews continued to examine the scene.

Both the Canadian Red Cross and Salvation Army were also on site to assist the displaced residents, and Welland and District Humane Society was on scene to assist with pets. It was reported that at least one cat had perished in the fire.

Kennedy said an electrical engineer was being brought in to do testing in the building to determine its condition. It was undetermined how long the residents would be displaced.

The portion of Riverside Dr. where the building sits was closed to traffic for throughout Sunday morning.