Crews battle fire in Fort McMurray apartment building, flames under control

FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. – Crews fought a large fire Monday night that ripped through an apartment building in downtown Fort McMurray.

Bob Couture, a spokesman for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, said the flames have been contained.

“The fire that our emergency regional services responded to downtown is under control and is presently under investigation for the cause,” Couture said late Monday.

“I can say that this fire is not related to wildfires. The situation is safe at this time.”

There were no reports of injuries.

It was not clear how many people were forced from the neighbourhood when flames engulfed the four-story apartment complex.

There were unconfirmed reports that the apartment complex was empty at the time but that RCMP evacuated nearby buildings.

Residents of Fort McMurray who had to flee the area due to wildfires on May 3 have been returning to the community since last Wednesday. (The Canadian Press, CFFR)