Fire officials are trying to determine the cause of a stubborn two-alarm blaze that damaged a row of buildings in Leaside early Friday morning.

The fire started just before 3 a.m. at Leaside Cleaners on Bayview Avenue, a few blocks south of Eglinton Avenue East.

Officials said the fire appeared to be contained to the building's wiring, but eventually morphed into a two-alarm blaze affecting a block of adjoining buildings.

Initial reports suggest the fire was spreading between the walls of the buildings, making it difficult for crews to put out.

Up to seven residents were forced out of their homes for a few hours as fire crews battled the blaze, police said. No major injuries have been reported.

While there is no official damage estimate yet, police said it looks as if the basements of some buildings were affected by the fire.

It appears that the blaze managed to gut three businesses on the Bayview Avenue block, a witness reported.