A costly multiple-alarm house fire on the central Mountain Sunday was likely caused by lacquer fumes in a basement hobby room, ignited by the pilot light on a hot water heater, according to the Hamilton Fire Department.

Lacquer is a coating often used to finish wooden surfaces.

At about 6 p.m., Hamilton firefighters responded to the fire, at 51 Audrey St., just south of Juravinski Hospital and west of Upper Sherman Avenue.

According to Chief David Cunliffe, heavy smoke was reported in the neighbourhood, and upon arrival at the home, firefighters found smoke and a large fire in the basement.

Hamilton firefighters in the aftermath of a fire they successfully extinguished in a home on the central Mountain, just south of Juravinski hospital. Jennifer Moore/The Hamilton Spectator

They s

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