A nude man was taken to hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation following an apartment fire in an east-end building.

The 60-year-old was found in the lobby of the building at 225 Melvin Ave. by firefighters after they responded to a 911 call just before 3:30 p.m. yesterday.

The man, who appeared not to have had time to put on clothes before escaping his burning second-floor apartment, was taken by ambulance to Hamilton General Hospital.

Nancy Franey was relaxing in her third-floor apartment before going to work when she heard firefighters banging on her door.

"I was just watching a movie, then 'Bang. Bang. Fire Department.' I just panicked."

Firefighters checked out a neighbour in another second-floor apartment, but she did not need medical treatment.

The nine-storey building, between Glassco Avenue North and Adair Avenue North, was evacuated.

Fire safety officer John Verbeek says the man's apartment sustained $20,000 damage.

The cause has been determined to be an unattended pot of cooking oil left on the stove.