Winnipeg fire crews battle a major fire at a Webb Place apartment block on Tuesday. (CBC) Two Winnipeg firefighters and a civilian were injured during an $8-million fire at a downtown apartment complex, fire officials said.

The fire destroyed at least two suites and spread to a second-floor courtyard at 410 Webb Place just before 5 p.m. CT. The building is behind Portage Place Shopping Centre near The Promenade.

Thick black smoke wafts across the downtown Winnipeg skyline. (CBC) Fire officials said one firefighter twisted an ankle and another suffered from the effects of smoke inhalation.

Platoon Chief Ralph Ens said a civilian was treated in hospital for smoke inhalation.

Residents, including a handful in wheelchairs, were ordered out of the building and escorted to nearby businesses to wait out the blaze.

Firefighters worked on a rooftop to try to put out the blaze, which caused serious damage to suites on the second and third floors. (CBC)Officials said at least 10 trucks were called to the fire, which slowed rush-hour traffic and sent plumes of inky smoke billowing over the downtown skyline.

The fire was extinguished by 6:45 p.m., Ens said.

He couldn't say what caused the fire, which started on the roof of the building.

By 10 p.m. fire officials pegged the damage at $8 million, up from an earlier estimate of $1 million. Most of that damage happened in suites on the second and third floors.