Apartment occupant rescued from fire

Firefighters rescued one person from an apartment fire that shut down the heart of Leamington on Friday morning.

Emergency responders were called to the 100 block of Erie Street North around 7 a.m.

Leamington firefighters, paramedics, and OPP arrived to find a blaze in progress in a second-floor residence above storefront businesses.

One occupant was rescued from the upper unit. OPP said the person suffered minor smoke inhalation.

The core intersection was shut down as firefighters continued to deal with the scene: Erie Street North was closed between Talbot Street and Nelson Street, and Talbot Street was closed between Queens Avenue and Victoria Avenue.

Kingsville and Lakeshore fire departments were called to assist. Three fire trucks with aerial ladders were used to get better vantage points on the situation.

The fire was finally considered under control around 1:30 p.m.

At press time, the cause of the fire remained under investigation.

JASON KRYK Leamington and Kingsville firefighters battled a building fire on Erie Street in downtown Leamington on Friday. One person was rescued.