A fire that destroyed a restaurant and several apartments above it in Gatineau's Hull sector was under control late Tuesday morning, firefighters said.

Daniel Albert, chief of operations for the Gatineau fire department, said the firefighters were called to the two-storey building on Eddy Street around 6 a.m.

Fire Chief Daniel Albert said three crews searched the building and could not find anyone.
(CBC)

At the time, he said, flames were reaching out from the structure, and firefighters were told one person might be missing.

Three search teams went into the building, but did not find anyone, Albert said.

However, firefighters later learned the person reported missing left for the hospital during the night.

Albert said he did not know how many residents lost their homes.

Four buildings were evacuated in the neighbourhood but no one was injured.

Albert said the old-style buildings in the area, many built from wood, catch fire easily.

"Once the flames get through one place, they go all over."