A house fire filled downtown skies with plumes of smoke this afternoon.

Firefighters were on scene on Spence Street as flames shot through the roof of the home. The fire started in a rooming house and spread to the home next door.

"The flame was coming out so much, it went kaboom, it shattered and hit the second house," said Amy Rothnie.

One man had to be evacuated from the house beside the one that initially caught fire. Several people from the rooming house were also forced to leave. The Winnipeg Fire Department says 4 people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

The WFD estimates $250,000 worth of damage to the first house, and $150,000 to the neighbouring home.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.