Kamloops Fire Rescue says nine people were inside a fourplex in the downtown that caught fire this morning.

Platoon Capt. Troy Grant says all residents got out safely, saying one person was taken to Royal Inland Hospital for minor smoke inhalation. “And that was the person living in the basement suite involved in fire.”

He says crews were called to the fire at 636 Battle Street around 3:54 a.m., noting they had cleared the scene by 8:30 a.m.

“I spoke directly with the fire inspector; he believes it to be human-caused, meaning that it started in the suite because of an action of the tenant there is what’s suspected at this time. I can’t give you any details as to how that started.”

Grant says crews were already on scene when the fire started, as they responded to an unrelated medical call in the alley behind the home 15 minutes earlier, at 3:40 a.m.

“The fire was knocked down in the basement, but because of the construction, it worked its way up the side of the building and into the attic. And crews had to fight the fire where it had extended to as well.”

According to BC Assessment the home involved was built in 1930.