Firefighters battle massive fire in construction site near Kildonan East Collegiate

Winnipeg emergency crews are on scene at a massive fire spewing black smoke on a construction site near Kildonan East Collegiate this afternoon, according to a tweet from the Winnipeg Police Service.

Police have described it as a "significant" fire at the intersection of London Street and Kimberly Avenue.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service was called to the construction site at 3:30 p.m. and had to call in more units to help as the fire was spreading to neighbouring apartment buildings, said WFPS spokesperson Michelle Lancaster in an email.

At least 10 emergency units were on scene battling the fire, but by the evening, the site was reduced to a smouldering pile of rubble.

No injuries have been reported at this time, Lancaster added.

Emergency crews have asked people to avoid the area and use alternate routes as they're expected to be on scene for an extended period of time.

Jeff Douglas lives in the neighbourhood and was driving by when he saw the flames pouring out of a three storey L-shaped apartment building under construction.

"It was crazy. How do you describe it? It looked like a giant bonfire and black smoke like crazy," he told CBC News.

"As long as nobody's hurt it's material things, it can be replaced. Hopefully, there's not much damage to the condos next door and everybody comes out of this."

Joe Barriault was in the area when the fire started and shot video. He says it started as a small flame and within minutes spread throughout the site.

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"Four minutes ago this was just a small little flame in the front doorway there. It took off so fast," he said in the video.

Firefighters could be seen dousing the building next door as flames licked at its side.

Lancaster says all of the people living in the neighbouring building escaped and are seeking shelter in Winnipeg Transit buses.