The fire broke out around 4:00 a.m. on the 1300 block of Harrison Street.
Crews arrived to find fire showing from two upper level apartments.
The fast-moving fire was placed under control within a half hour, but not before nine apartments inside the building were damaged by fire, smoke and water.
Eight of them have been condemned.
There were no injuries reported.
The Red Cross is assisting eight families displaced by the blaze.
The search for the cause continues.
