Several people taken to hospital after high rise blaze

Several people are without a home this evening and others are recovering from injuries after an early morning fire in a St. Boniface high rise.

Crews were called to the 100 block of Marion St. around 6:40 a.m. for a fire alarm. When firefighters arrived they encountered thick smoke and called in a second alarm for more units. Nearly two dozen emergency vehicles were on scene at one point.

Witnesses at the scene say three people were taken to hospital before reporters arrived on the scene. An ambulance was seen arriving taking a fourth person to hospital after that. Officials say one person was taken in critical condition. There is no word on any of the injured's status as of Friday evening.

Residents who escaped the fire tell us the fire was on the sixth floor. "Smoke was pouring in through our doors," one person who asked not to be named said. Firefighters helped many people get out of the building.

Paramedics checked over a dozen people on scene for injuries.

While the fire was contained to the sixth floor, other areas of the building did sustain smoke and water damage.

It's unclear at this time how many people were not able to return to their homes, but Manitoba Housing is helping people find accommodation in the meantime.

The cause of the fire has not been announced yet.