Video: Fire Burns In Downtown Seattle

Thick black smoke from the 16-story building about two blocks west of Interstate 5 distracted drivers, and fire engines crowded downtown streets, snarling traffic.

The fire was contained to a 30-foot-by-30-foot raised platform on the roof, said Fire Department spokeswoman Helen Fitzpatrick.

During the summer, firefighters trained for high-rise fires on the building, Fitzpatrick said. They arrived within minutes Tuesday and had the fire out shortly thereafter.

The Municipal Building is being demolished, and a new city hall is being built downtown.

Some people working in the new city hall and other nearby buildings evacuated as a precaution, but no evacuations were ordered.