ENCINITAS, Calif. - A Solana Beach firefighter was hospitalized Sunday after battling an early morning blaze that destroyed an upstairs duplex unit in Cardiff, fire officials said.

The fire broke out about 1 a.m. in an upstairs unit in the 2000 block of Cambridge Avenue, near Birmingham Drive, according to Encinitas Fire Capt. Terry Chiros.

Crews remained on scene until about 6 a.m., he said.

A Solana Beach firefighter sustained a heat-related injury. He was taken to a hospital and was later released, Chiros said.

One unit in the building was a total loss and the adjoining unit sustained smoke and water damage, Chiros said.