Just after 2:30 am Sunday morning, September 29, 2019, more than a dozen emergency vehicles descended on 138 Portage Avenue East for the report of a fire.

When crews arrived they found flames and smoke shooting from the roof into the dark sky. The blaze could be seen from several blocks away.

The seven storey brick building is on Winnipeg’s historic buildings list and was built in 1909.

Crews set up two ladder trucks to attack the fire from the front and back while other firefighters entered the building but had to exit do to heavy smoke and heat.

Emergency crews on scene told News 4 that the roof had collapsed and the fire had followed an elevator shaft to the basement of the building.

Air one as well as the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service drone were keeping crews apprised of hotspots.

Crews were still on scene at 7:00 am are expected to be there for several more hours.

The blaze is under investigation.

© News4.ca 2020