Fire crews put out blaze in old Pittsburgh Macy’s building
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Firefighters in Western Pennsylvania have extinguished a blaze at the former Macy’s building in downtown Pittsburgh.
A Pittsburgh public safety spokeswoman said the blaze Saturday afternoon started in a basement electrical vault and spread through an elevator shaft. She said everyone in the building made it out safely, and no injuries were reported.
Smoke could be seen rising from the vacant building but no flames were visible. Officials said the fire was extinguished by 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
The 13-story building was originally a Kauffman’s department store that opened in 1887 before Macy’s bought the building in 2005. Macy’s sold the building before closing the store in September 2015.
A developer bought two floors with plans to open a 155-room hotel next year. Retail space and apartments are also planned.