Moncton Fire spent most of Tuesday morning battling a blaze at a Henry Street home.

Platoon Chief Keith Guptil says it was reported just before 1 am.

There was heavy smoke and flames coming from the rear of the duplex when they arrived.

Guptil adds it was a challenging fight after the fire got into the attic of the older two-and-a-half-storey home.

Nine residents got out safely with the help of firefighters.

The Canadian Red Cross volunteers have arranged emergency lodging and financial support for purchases like food and clothing for five of them who shared one unit and four university students from Europe who shared the other.

The two neighbouring homes were also evacuated.

Around 15 firefighters were on the scene helping to battle the blaze.

The duplex is extensively damaged, with the majority of the damage at the back of the structure.

Guptil says the roof for both sides of the duplex collapsed during the fire.

There’s no word on a cause yet.