A large fire in an abandoned home on Sunday evening spread to a neighbouring home which was occupied, causing significant damage. 

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) responded to reports of a fire in a vacant two-storey home in the 500 block of College Avenue at 6:00 p.m.

The WFPS says that when they arrived they encountered heavy smoke and flames. By the time they had arrived the fire had also spread to a neighbouring residential side-by-side home.

Firefighters we forced to use a defensive attack. The WFPS says that "both homes suffered significant fire, smoke, and water damage."

Residents of the neighbouring home were able to self-evacuate before the arrival of emergency personnel. Another home was also evacuated as a precaution, but they were able to return once the fire was out. There were no reports of injuries.

The City of Winnipeg says the same vacant home was also damaged by fire in 2017.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. No damage estimates were provided.