Flames shoot out of windows as apartment building burns in downtown Charlottetown

A downtown Charlottetown building divided into 12 small apartments was heavily damaged Wednesday after it caught fire and burned, sending smoke billowing over a large area of the city.

One person was hanging out the window when firefighters and police arrived at 88-90 Sydney St. just after 2:15 p.m. but managed to get out without assistance, firefighters told CBC News. 

Two people were taken to hospital with undetermined injuries that aren't believed to be life-threatening, said Fire Chief Tim Mamye.

The building's owner did not want to do an interview, but said 12 people had been living in the 12-unit structure.

"The whole top of the building was on fire, engulfed," said Rebecca Kelly, who lives nearby. "It's very scary, especially because we just had a fire recently on the same street a couple months ago.

"So I think just anytime something like that happens, it's instant shock and terror."

Firefighters said it was a stubborn blaze to fight because the building was older and they had to cut holes in the roof to get at the flames. As of late afternoon, they were expecting to be on the scene all night and were asking people to stay away. 

Some streets in the downtown area were blocked off due to the fire, and police officers were going door to door in the neighbourhood to ensure people were safe. 

The burning building was located just down the block from the Charlottetown Library Learning Centre, which posted at 3:30 p.m. that it was closing early due to the fire.

The Canadian Red Cross was on the scene helping people who lived in the building, many of them students, and now don't have a place to stay.