Firefighters battle a fire at the Duff Robin building at the University of Manitoba. Firefighters battle a fire at the Duff Robin building at the University of Manitoba. (Joshua Adria/CBC)

A building at the University of Manitoba was damaged during a fire Saturday afternoon.

There were no injuries reported.

Winnipeg firefighters and hazardous materials personnel responded to the fire on the fourth floor of the Duff Roblin Building just after 12 p.m. The building on Dysart Road houses the psychology department and zoology laboratories.

Smoke could be seen billowing into the sky from two blocks away. The area was evacuated, and roads in the vicinity were closed.

A hazardous materials crew was on the scene since officials were not sure whether the fire posed a danger to the public.

Fire officials said that when they arrived on scene they started to attack the blaze, but were then advised the building housed laboratories containing 250 different chemicals.

The building was quickly evacuated and firefighters got the fire under control. A number of other buildings, including a student residence, were also evacuated as a precaution.

Students, staff and visitors were allowed back on campus later in the day. Officials had no immediate word on the cause of the blaze.