Norwich — A fire that started in the rear of a seven-unit apartment house at 63 Washington St. damaged two units and forced the evacuation of 14 residents on Thursday.

Fire Chief Kenneth Scandariato said the fire started about 3 p.m. in a rear apartment, and spread to some combustible materials stored outside the window of the apartment and then to a second-floor unit.

Norwich firefighters had the blaze under control in about an hour, he said.

“There was a lot of fire up and around there when we arrived,” he said. The firefighters “did a nice job, containing the fire to two apartments.”

While the fire did not spread beyond the two apartments, there was smoke and heat damage in the rest of the building, he said.

Mohegan tribal firefighters provided assistance to the city department, Scandariato said.

The city building official was checking the structural integrity of the building Thursday evening, and the fire marshal was on the scene assessing the cause, Scandariato said.

The Red Cross is assisting the residents.

Washington Street was closed for several hours but reopened before 6 p.m., he said.

According to information on the Vision Appraisal website, the brick and masonry structure was built in 1865. It is owned by Edward Esteban Mena and Wendy Login of Gales Ferry.