There appears to be heavy damage to an upper floor apartment after a fire at a funeral home in Petrolia.

Just after 8 pm Wednesday, a fire broke out in the apartment above Needham-Jay Funeral Home on Petrolia Line. Petrolia firefighters were on the scene quickly and were able to control the blaze within minutes according to Chief Jay Arns.

The residents were safely out of the building and two were assessed by paramedics at the scene.

Arns tells The Independent the fire damage is mostly to the upper level of the building but there is smoke and water damage throughout the home.

In a social media post this evening, management of Needham-Jay reassured families and the community.

“The fire damage appears to be in the apartment above the funeral home. The family that resided there got out safely. Any deceased that were in our care have not been affected and we will be in touch with their families shortly,” Needham-Jay wrote. “Our phones are still being answered and we are available to take care of your loved one’s funeral needs.”

The management also thanked the fire department and members of SORT who helped out during the emergency.

The family displaced by the fire will be staying with relatives tonight.

Thursday morning, fire crews will be back on the scene to try to figure out how the blaze began.