A historic Winnipeg rooming house dubbed the "murder mansion" has officially been torn down after it went up in flames early Thursday morning. 

Crews started battling the fire at around 2:30 a.m. and remained on scene throughout the morning. 

Winnipeg Police say the fire is likely suspicious, as the building was set to be demolished. There were no occupants in the building at the time of the fire, but black smoke covered the area. 

Balmoral St. is closed between Cumberland and Notre Dame and the two left-hand lanes of Notre Dame are blocked by fire crews at Harriet St. 

Cumberland Ave. was closed at Spence but has since been re-opened. 

The house has been the location of a number of violent incidents and homicides, hence its designation as Winnipeg's "murder mansion."