Witnesses described an unpleasant smell like burning plastic and large clouds of thick black smoke after a flooring and hardwood store caught fire in Saskatoon on Wednesday morning.

“We could see plumes of smoke and flames coming out of the doors of the flooring warehouse and the wind was blowing in that direction. The smoke was really quite thick and was coming into our store and warehouse,” said Early Preston, owner of nearby Early’s Farm and Garden Centre.

Assistant Fire Chief Rob Hogan was on scene. He said crews were called to Prestige Flooring and Hardwood, 2600 block of Jasper Avenue, around 11:30 a.m. CST.

When firefighters arrived, they found thick smoke coming from the front door.

He said the store was evacuated and no injuries were reported, but there was significant damage to the building.

Deputy Fire Chief Rob Hogan said burning plastics and petrochemical materials at the plant caused the thick smoke. (Aishwarya Dudha/CBC)

Hogan said plastics and petrochemical materials caused the thick smoke and odor.

“Due to the nature of the building, there was still heavy smoke. The incident commander raised a second alarm, and a total of seven fire engines, two aerial ladders, our command unit and the battalion commander were on site,” said Hogan.

Crews remained on scene Wednesday afternoon and continued to work to fully extinguish the fire. Hogan said police, emergency services, SaskPower and SaskEnergy also assisted.