Only minor injuries were suffered after a three-alarm fire broke out at a five-storey building in the Bathurst Street and St. Clair area Wednesday.

Residents told CityNews the fire broke out in a unit on the second floor.

“I heard the screaming and ran up to the floor and there was black smoke already coming out the entire second floor,” resident Justin Nattress told CityNews.

“The neighbour grabbed that extinguisher, I went downstairs to the main floor and grabbed that one and we just tried to make sure everyone was okay. By that time it was too far for two fire extinguishers to do anything.”

The battle became more intense after a mayday call was made shortly after 9 p.m.

Thankfully everyone managed to escape the building without serious injury.

Paramedics treated firefighters and five civilians on scene for minor smoke inhalation.

Buses were brought in to house residents while crews worked ensure the building is safe to enter.

There has been no word on what caused the blaze.