SUDBURY -- Greater Sudbury fire department is battling a residential fire on King Street in the Flour Mill area Monday morning.

Firefighters got the call around 9 a.m. when a fire started in the basement of a 5-unit residential building across the street from the Long & McQuade music store, Sudbury's Deputy Fire Chief Jesse Oshell told CTV News.

"King is closed at Notre Dame. Please avoid the area," said Oshell in a tweet.

Alex Sauve lives in one of the units and told CTV News that the fire started near the hot water tank by the laundry facilities. He said he used a fire extinguisher to try to put the flames out and another resident was injured while trying to help him.

Sauve said the other resident was taken by ambulance to the hospital with scrapes and burns on his hand.

He also said that homeless people have been sneaking in and living in the building.

 Oshell told CTV News seven people were evacuated safely.  

A firefighter rescued a cat from the building just after 10 a.m. and officials say there are potentially more animals still in the complex. 

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

More details to come on this breaking news story.