More than 24 tenants of an Amherst apartment building have been forced from their homes by fire.

The fire broke out in the four-storey building on Victoria Street East in downtown Amherst around 10 p.m.

It also forced members of several nearby businesses, including the Amherst Police Service from their buildings.

At least one person was treated for smoke inhalation.

With the help of the Canadian Red Cross, a shelter has been set up for evacuated tenants at the First Baptist Church.

There’s no word on what caused the blaze.