Nine people self-evacuated and one was taken to hospital after a fire broke out at a triplex on Manitoba Avenue Sunday morning.

Firefighters received a call from a Winnipeg Transit driver who passed by the home on Manitoba Avenue and McNichol Street near McPhillips Street, around 11:30 a.m.

“It was hot. I mean it was hot,” said Ray Stevenson, who watched from a distance. “While I was going by the fire almost scorched my car it was that intense".

By the time crews arrived, the back of the house was well involved, platoon chief Morris Semkowski said.

Semkowski said nine occupants, five females and four males, self-evacuated before crews arrived.

Firefighters found one female suffering from smoke inhalation. She was taken to hospital in unstable condition.

No one else was injured in the fire.

There is no word yet on the cause of the fire as arson investigators are continuing their analysis.

Crews said one of the reasons arson is suspected is because the large volume of flames that took over was unusual.

Semkowski did not have a damage estimate, but said it’s unlikely the building can be saved.

“Once you apply a lot of heat to the brick it will wreak the motor joints so I don't think it will be salvaged,” he said Sunday.

Matt Luedtke and Barb Cushnie had lived in one of the units for a little more than a year.

“I was having a little nap and woke up to people yelling, ‘fire’,” said Luedtke.

He said they ran out of the house, only grabbing their dog, Spanky.

“I’m wearing somebody else’s shoes. I didn’t even stop for shoes,” said Cushnie.

Where the two, along with other people who lived in the building, will go now, is up in the air.  

Luedtke and Cushnie are thankful to be alive.

“Shocked. I don’t really feel anything. I'm happy we're out and Spanky too," said Cushnie.