Three people have died and another 15 are injured following a fire at a community housing building in Toronto's Malvern neighbourhood.

The fire broke out at a highrise, located in the area of Neilson Road and Finch Avenue, shortly after 3 p.m. on Friday. The building is an apartment complex for seniors that is run by Toronto Community Housing Corporation.

A total of 18 people were taken to hospital with various injuries as a result of the fire, Toronto police said. Three were pronounced dead.

"The smoke was so black in the hall you couldn't see out the window," one of the tenants told CTV Toronto's Natalie Johnson.

From the CTV News chopper, a firefighter could be seen performing CPR on someone on the ground near the building. Several people could be seen walking down a fire truck ladder, accompanied by members of Toronto Fire Services.

The fire, which started on the fifth floor, has been extinguished.