The Grande Prairie Fire Department spent the better part of Saturday battling an apartment complex blaze. (Damien Wood/Sun Media)

GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. - Dozens of people are homeless today after a massive fire destroyed a three-storey Grande Prairie apartment complex.

The blaze yesterday morning left more than 40 people homeless before the holidays.

Flames engulfed the 30-unit building just before 4 a.m., said city spokesman David Olinger.

"It's a pretty substantive fire," he said, adding no neighbouring buildings were endangered or evacuated.

The fire is considered suspicious, the city said in a press release.

NO INJURIES REPORTED

The adults-only, no-pets apartment complex was immediately evacuated. No injuries have been reported.

About 35 firefighters arrived on scene for "defensive firefighting operations." Five members of the Sexsmith fire department were also called in to provide a ladder truck and assistance.

Roads at 92 Avenue from 96 Street to Resources Road were closed off and traffic rerouted to steer locals away from the thick plumes of smoke.

Crews will likely remain on scene until early today.

Angel Doell and her boyfriend David Boutin were at home just two buildings away from the fire when they spotted flames shooting high into the sky.

"It looked like the flames were coming out of the roof of the building," said Doell. "It's kind of scary."

Longtime resident Roger Biron said he saw smoke from his apartment suite 2 1/2 blocks away from the blaze.

"I didn't get close to the fire. I just stayed out of the firefighters' way," said the retired volunteer firefighter.

A reception centre was set up at the nearby Church of Christ to provide coffee and food. Emergency accommodations were set up at local hotels for displaced residents.

Family and friends of residents can call the phone line at the reception centre at 780-532-4211 for information about their loved ones.

Residents are also encouraged to call so emergency personnel can maintain contact with them.

BUILDING A WRITEOFF

No damage estimate was available yesterday and the cause was still under investigation. Olinger said the building appeared to be a writeoff.

An information meeting for residents has been scheduled for Monday at 7 p.m. at the church.

Grande Prairie is about 440 km northwest of Edmonton.

CLARA.HO@SUNMEDIA.CA