Black smoke rises from Chicago's old Post Office building as fire crews have been called to respond to a fire, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016, in Chicago. Plumes of black smoke trailed from the long-vacant building, which straddles a Chicago freeway. The post office closed in 1995. Construction on the building first began in the 1920s and it's on the National Register of Historic Places. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
The Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) - An extra-alarm fire at Chicago's old Post Office has been struck out with no injuries.
Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said Tuesday that firefighters were called to the long-vacant structure around 10:30 a.m. The fire was extinguished after about an hour.
Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner William Vogt says a pile of "old oily rags" fueled the fire, but it was unclear what sparked it. Earlier, black smoke could be seen pluming from the building, which straddles a freeway.
The post office closed in 1995. However construction crews have recently been onsite for a restoration and renovation project that's expected to include a rooftop park and landscaping along the Chicago River.
Construction on the building first began in the 1920s and it's on the National Register of Historic Places.
Black smoke rises from Chicago's old Post Office building as fire crews have been called to respond to an extra-alarm fire, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016, in Chicago. Plumes of black smoke trailed from the long-vacant building, which straddles a Chicago freeway. The post office closed in 1995. Construction on the building first began in the 1920s and it's on the National Register of Historic Places. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
The Associated Press
Fire crews respond to a fire at the old Post Office building, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016, in Chicago. Plumes of black smoke trailed from the long-vacant building, which straddles a Chicago freeway. The post office closed in 1995. Construction on the building first began in the 1920s and it's on the National Register of Historic Places. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
The Associated Press