Fire crews worked quickly to extinguish a suspicious fire at a vacant downtown Kitchener building Sunday afternoon.

The fire broke out just after the noon hour.

Black smoke could be seen billowing from the former Pearl Laundry Cleaners and Dyers building.

Traffic in the area was rerouted as the streets around the corner of Queen and Charles were blocked off.

The fire started on the first floor and spread up into the second floor apartment units.

No one was home at the time, firefighters did rescue to two cats.

Fire officials are calling the fire suspicious.

Damages are estimate at $50,000.

Police and fire officials are still investigating the incident.