Police have taken over the investigation of an early evening fire in the city's industrial core that claimed the life of a woman Wednesday.

Around 6:20 p.m., firefighters responded to a report of a fire at a one-and-half-storey home at 561 Kenilworth Ave. N., near Burlington Street. The fire was later upgraded, and additional firefighters were called to the scene.

A woman, the lone occupant of the home, was rescued and transported to hospital, according to the fire department. She was later pronounced dead.

There is no known cause of the fire yet, but a fire department spokesperson said the case is now "a police matter" after the fire marshal attended the scene Wednesday night.

Hamilton police did not immediately respond to interview requests Thursday morning.

The house suffered extensive damage, estimated at about $100,000, according to the fire department.