Fire crews responded to a blaze on a scrap car barge in the Gorge Waterway Friday afternoon that sent plumes of acrid, black smoke into the air.

Flames first erupted from the barge around 2:10 p.m., according to Victoria Fire Department.

Video from the scene shows flames shooting from cars on the barge, which belongs to Schnitzer Steel.

The company said smoke was seen emerging from the barge whil it was being loaded. It also confirmed all employees were safe and no one was injured.

Victoria Fire confirmed some 16 firefighters were battling the blaze in front of 2940 Jutland Road. In addition to a fire boat that shot water onto the flaming barge, two engines, a rescue truck and a ladder truck were also deployed.

They said debris had also gone into the water as a result of the blaze, but there were no signs of oil in the water.

Crews still set up booms in the water out of precaution.

Residents reported that the smoke sweeping over the area smelled "disgusting."

Schnitzer Steel is the same company that had a barge list in the waterway in August 2015, spilling about 20 cars into the water. The company was held responsible for all associated clean-up costs.

The company said the fire was "under control" at around 4:30 p.m. A cause is still under investigation.