Fire Breaks Out At Former Macy's Building
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) -- A fire broke out at the former Macy's building downtown Saturday afternoon.
Reports of the 5-alarm fire first came in around 1:30 p.m. It was eventually upgraded to a 6-alarm fire.
Crews located fire in an electrical vault in a basement, which had spread up an elevator shaft.
Crews had the fire under control around 2:30 p.m. and everyone made it out safely, including construction workers who were not initially accounted for.
"We heard a loud bang and suddenly smoke started coming up from the elevator shaft in the basement, and we started fratically trying to get all of our guys out of there," said worker Richard Kunesky
The fire was completely out at 4:30 p.m.
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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. Officials said retail space and apartments were also planned.
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