A blaze that damaged six units at Glencoe Hills apartments was caused by work being done to the exterior of the building, Pittsfield Township fire officials said.

The fire, at the building at 2248 Glencoe Hills Drive, started at about 5:30 p.m. Dec. 29 and caused $40,000 damage, officials said.

Exterior work was blamed for starting a Dec. 29 fire at Glencoe Hills.

Pittsfield Fire Cmdr. Sean Gleason said work was being done on the exterior of the building, and in the process, mortar melted and started the siding of the building on fire.

The fire spread through the second and third floors into the attic. Firefighters had to remove some of the soffit and siding to get to the fire in the attic, Gleason said.

No one was injured. Firefighters rescued several pets from apartments.

The apartment complex assisted residents who were displaced by the fire.