Firefighters battled a 10-alarm fire in Cambridge Saturday near Berkshire Street and Vandine Street that jumped from building to building.

Cambridge Fire Chief Gerald Reardon said the blaze involved eight to 11 buildings and had displaced between 50 to 60 people.

Crews contained the fire shortly before 8:30 p.m. Saturday night.

The first call for the fire went out just before 3 p.m., according to a Cambridge Fire Department tweet.

Heavy flames emerged from at least one residential building. A large plume of smoke was visible for miles as heavy flames engulfed multi-family residential buildings, including a former church that had been converted to condos, and several automobiles. Fire crews were called in from surrounding communities.

The area is close to Kendall Square and the Kendall Square Cinema. Some witnesses said the fire started at a residential building undergoing renovations.

Chief Reardon said about five to six minor injuries had been reported. At least one responder was treated for smoke inhalation on scene. The state fire marshal's office said two police officers and one firefighter were injured.

The Cambridge Fire Department said shelter was open at the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School for families displaced from their homes.

Fire Marshal spokeswoman Jennifer Mieth also directed displaced residents to go to the Frisoli Youth Center.

Authorities said they have intentionally shut the power off in the affected neighborhood and it could remain out through Saturday night.

Cambridge Mayor Denise Simmons said in a tweet that people should hold off on donating material items if they want to help in recovery efforts and instead directed them to donate to the Mayor's Fire Relief Fund.

Firefighters in Cambridge and surrounding communities responded to a 10-alarm blaze in the city on Saturday. (Steve Brown/WBUR)

Flames were still emerging from the roof of a triple decker on Berkshire Street in Cambridge just before 7 p.m Saturday night. (Steve Brown/WBUR)

Fire crews trying to halt the spread of fire at St Patrick's Place in Cambridge. (Steve Brown/WBUR)

With reporting from WBUR's Bob Shaffer, Steve Brown, Robin Lubbock and The Associated Press