It was a cold and busy weekend for the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service as they battled two large fires within hours of one another. 

The first fire broke out just after 3:30 a.m. in a two-and-a-half-storey home in the 700 block of Toronto Street. 

Heavy smoke and flames were pouring from the home when crews arrived. It took almost three hours for the fire to be declared under control. 

No one was in the home when the fire started, and no injuries were reported. 

A few hours later, around 11:20 a.m., fire crews responded to a two-and-a-half-storey multi-family home in the 100 block of Rex Avenue in North Point Douglas.

When crews arrived, they found smoke and flames coming from the house. They initially launched an interior attack, but as things deteriorated, crews were forced to battle the fire from outside of the house. 

All occupants of the home were able to safely self-evacuate before firefighters arrived. Neighbouring homes were also evacuated as a precaution. One firefighter sustained a minor injury and was treated by on-scene paramedics. No other injuries were reported. 

The cause of both fires remains under investigation.