Apartment building catches fire in Regina

Firefighters in Regina were called to a basement fire at an three-storey apartment in the Cathedral area of the city on Sunday.

Crews responded to the scene of the fire at 2175 Robinson St. atabout 4p.m.

Multiple neighbourstold CBC News they heard loudbangs, similar to the sound offireworks, and saw black smoke billowing out of the apartment's basement windows.

Monica Ibislives in a second story suite and was talking on the phone with a friend from B.C. when she heard the fire alarm.

At firstshe said tenants weren't taking it seriously,then someone shouted there was a fire in the building.

"I wentdownstairsand then [in the]frontentrancethere was tons of smoke," she said.

Ibis said she exited the building out the back and that's when someone called 911.

"While we were waiting, me and a guy ran upstairs, I went on the second floor, 'cause people were still in thebuildingand then there was flames shooting out down in the basement."

"I feel OK, butfrustrated just that I might lose my building."

As of 4:50 p.m., police on scene were unable to comment on the cause of the blaze. Numerous residents, some wearing slippers, and others barefoot, were told they had to wait until a fire inspector arrived in order to determine ifand even whenthey would be allowed tore-enter.

No injuries were reported. The building is home to around 24 tenants.

Danielle Fontaine, who also lives on the second floor, said she and her boyfriend who actually moved into the building that day were napping when she heard a few explosions. She grabbed the keys and left, looking out the window and also noticed black smoke.

Fonatine said she's lived in the building for about a year and nothing like this has happened before.

Donna Prosofski lives in an apartment building across the street and said at first, she thought the bangs she heard were fireworks.

"I thought well, it's kinda odd, fireworks this time of day. I got up and I looked out my bedroom window 'cause I was reading a book and I saw black smoke come billowing out the front door."

According to online rental listings, the three storeyapartment building is managed by 3J Holdings.