Crews arrived to find heavy black smoke billowing up from the roof.

No one was inside the home at the time and there were no injuries.

Over 500 homes were evacuated in the community of West Porters Lake due to a forest fire that burnt through roughly 50 hectares of land.

The Nova Scotia Department of Lands for Forestry says the 45-hectare fire was still considered out of control as of Sunday at 9:11 a.m.

There were no injuries and the apartment only received minor damage as a result of the blaze.

Smoke from a brush fire that has forced the evacuation of residents in the area of Porters Lake, N.S. can be seen from kilometres away. 

"It could have been a lot worse."

Multiple crews responded to the blaze in the 2000 block of Cow Bay Road, near Dyke Road. 

Halifax Regional Police said the crews responded to the fire at 32 Quartz Drive at around 1:15 a.m. on March 22.

The union representing firefighters implored residents to not approach fire crews, and keep clear of walkways, stairs and elevators.