WATCH: Winnipeg fire crews battle huge blaze downtown

WINNIPEG — Fire crews battled a blaze in a downtown apartment block Monday evening.

Flames engulfed the vacant 4 storey apartment block at 44 Hargrave Street which was in the process of being demolished.

UPDATE: Winnipeg police seek teen suspects in downtown blaze

Parts of the building collapsed and orange flames shot high in the sky as firefighters poured water and a crowd gathered to watch.

Hargrave was blocked to traffic north of Broadway.

Alex Forrest, president of the United Firefighters of Winnipeg, said the fire crews’ main concern was to stop the fire spreading to neighbouring buildings – an effort that was ultimately successful.

“It’s what we call a good stop,” said Forrest.

There were no injuries as a result of the fire. The cause of the blaze is under investigation and a damage estimate is unavailable.

WATCH: Interview with Deputy Chief on scene of Hargrave fire

Neighbours told Global News the vacant building had been a blight on the neighbourhood for years, attracting squatters and graffiti.

“We complained to the city about it for years,” said Rachele Tessier, the superintendent of a building across the street. “This was a fire waiting to happen.”

The call came in at 6:42 p.m. and around 40 emergency crew members were dispatched to the scene.

Demolition crews began pushing the building’s walls in on themselves just before 10:30 p.m. The residents of 42 Hargrave Street have been evacuated and will remain so until the building at 44 Hargrave Street is completely demolished.

WATCH: Demolition crews begin work on 44 Hargrave Street

Manitoba Hydro shut down a line near the scene of the fire as a precaution. Approximately 450 customers are affected. The power will remain out until the building is demolished which is expected to be before 1 a.m. Tuesday.

The City of Winnipeg tweeted from their account asking drivers to avoid the area of the fire.

Motorists advised to pls avoid Broadway & Hargrave area while WFPS responds to a fire in the area. @wpgpolice #winnipeg

— City of Winnipeg (@cityofwinnipeg) April 7, 2015

The building was built in 1910 as Kenilworth Court apartments and closed down in 2007 after 97 years.