Firefighters in Brandon, Manitoba called in reinforcements from surrounding rural fire halls in battling Saturday's blaze that destroyed three buildings and damaged a 58-unit apartment building in the city's downtown.
Souris Glenwood volunteer fire chief Brian Parham says his department typically responds to highway crashes, and farm and river rescues.
But an inferno at Christie's Office Plus building prompted Brandon's fire department to accept Parham's offer of a pumper truck and crew.
There were no reported injuries in the fire, but among the structures worst hit by damage is a 58-unit apartment building, where many of the suites were managed by community groups.
The city says that as of Sunday morning, 93 adults and 57 children had registered at an evacuation centre.
Residents have been placed by the Red Cross at a local hotel.
Manitoba's minister of municipal affairs, Jeff Wharton, tweeted late Saturday night that he had spoken with Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest about the devastating fire to offer provincial support.