A sprawling KB Home condo project under construction in Woodland Hills was engulfed by flames this morning, causing damage to about one quarter of the 191-unit condo complex.

Firefighters contained the blaze, but not before it sent a tower of smoke rising above the West Valley. The fire ripped through a wing of the five-story Ascent condominium complex, which is under construction. No injuries were reported.

Ascent, which includes apartment-style condo units, is in Warner Center, south of Victory Boulevard at Canoga Avenue. Damage estimates weren’t immediately available.

A spokesperson for Los Angeles-based homebuilder KB Home did not immediately return a phone call requesting comment.

More than 200 firefighters were able to extinguish the flames, fire department spokesman Brian Humphrey said.

Early reports said that KB will more than likely be forced to rebuild the entire wing of the complex. The cause of the fire, reported shortly before 9 a.m., remained under investigation.

The sales center for the project is open and the condos were supposed to be ready for occupancy this spring. Sales staff recently said the units were not priced, pending market trends. Last year KB said it planned to sell the units in the $300,000 to $600,000 range.

The Warner Center development was the homebuilder’s first new project by its KB Urban division after the company pulled out of the Convention Center hotel project at L.A. Live in December 2006. That project had been championed by former Chief Executive Bruce Karatz, who resigned in November 2006.