HARDWICK, Vt. (AP) – A stubborn, smoky fire Friday severely damaged a downtown building, leaving 14 limited-income tenants homeless and closing four ground-floor businesses. No injuries were reported.

Firefighters from Hardwick and eight nearby towns battled the blaze for much of the day after it was reported at about 7 a.m.

Officials also evacuated buildings adjoining the 41 Main St. site of the fire, for fear it could spread.

For much of the day, no flames were visible from the fire, witnesses said. The Caledonian-Record of St. Johnsbury and the Hardwick Gazette reported that the fire was believed to be working within the building’s walls and floors, making it difficult to reach and putting the building’s structural integrity in jeopardy.

The four-story, wood-frame building, known locally as the Bemis Block, is owned by Northern Communities Investment Corp. The apartments were rent-subsidized, making them affordable for residents with limited incomes.

Among the four ground-floor businesses, a real estate office and a sandwich shop appeared to suffer the most damage. The building also housed shops selling secondhand clothing and gifts.

In addition to Hardwick’s, firefighters came to the scene from Morrisville, Hyde Park, Greensboro, Craftsbury, Stowe, Walden, Woodbury and Danville.

There was no word on the cause of the fire.

Ross Connelly, editor and publisher of the Hardwick Gazette, said it was the first major fire to strike the town’s center since January of 1992, when firefighters fought unsuccessfully in subzero temperatures to save two downtown buildings.

The Bemis Block is located in the center of the town, at the junction of Vermont Routes 14 and 15.