Hundreds of residents in the neighbourhood around the Waterford Place condominium complex in Calgary were evacuated Thursday as a huge fire raced through three completed buildings and others under construction.

At least 27 fire trucks fought the blaze for four hours, and 33 people were hurt, mostly firefighters and police officers suffering from heat exhaustion. None of the injuries were serious, although three people were hospitalized.

By supper time, the fire was beaten, although clean-up crews were expected to work overnight.

At one point flames more than 20 metres high shot up from the condominiums, and smoke filled the sky.

"It's just going from one building to another," a woman who could see the area said.

Emergency services officials said it was a stroke of good luck the fire started in the afternoon, when most of the residents were at work.

As word of the fire spread, however, people came back to try to save their possessions or pets.