A fire caused about $1 million in damage to Montreal's historic Atwater Market on the weekend, but crews managed to save the landmark from burning to the ground.

About 150 firefighters battled the flames as they spread quickly late Saturday, destroying the top floor of the 70-year-old market in the southwest part of the city.

Firefighters contained the blaze before it could reach the two lower floors, but shops below still suffered smoke and water damage. They got it under control after about three hours, and worked for another five hours until it was put out.

Firefighters battle the flames at Montreal's historic Atwater Market Saturday night.

The fire started in a third-floor gymnasium, but what caused it isn't known. Fire Chief Georges Aumais said it wasn't easy to control the flames, which consumed old gym mats.

Built in 1933, the market at one time had stalls for 300 merchants and had an auditorium that could hold 10,000 people standing.

The Canadian military used the facility during the Second World War to store meat for overseas soldiers. The army also used part of the market to train new recruits.

Some of the stores expect to re-open in just a few days, as soon as vendors clean up all the soot, water and muck.

Jean Pierre Maheu, whose family has had a butcher shop in the market since 1955, said vendors will have to throw out any fresh food that was exposed to the smoke.