NORTH VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Seniors are being guided down ladders from their balconies at a North Shore elderly living complex after a fire broke this afternoon.

Fire crews rushed to the Mount Seymour Lions Manor building at Deep Cove Crescent and Naughton Avenue around 1 p.m.

RCMP say a few seniors and a police officer are being treated for smoke inhalation, but there were no other more serious injuries.

Getting calls @NEWS1130 about an apartment fire in Deep Cove #NorthVancouver on Caledonia Avenue. One person says flames shooting through the building. — Bruce Claggett (@BruceClaggett) July 24, 2018

Approximately 50 people live in the residence that caught on fire. One caller to the newsroom told us they saw flames shooting from the building.

“The entire cove has been closed off,” Ryan Anderson tells NEWS 1130. He is in the area and says he saw a handful of fire engines raced past him to get to the building.

Due to a major structure fir in #DeepCove the air quality is extremely poor. Please shut all doors and windows and remain indoors if possible if you are in the area. Further updates to come. — North Shore EM (@NorthShoreEMO) July 24, 2018

Meantime, North Shore Emergency Management is asking people to keep their windows and doors closed because the air quality is poor as a result of the blaze. They’re also telling people to stay inside to keep away from the smoke.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.