Abilene Reporter News building catches fire, staff evacuated

Firefighters are investigating what started a fire in the attic of the Abilene Reporter News, the oldest existing business institution in the city.

Officials said the fire was discovered in the attic about 9:15 a.m. and firefighters cut their way through to the roof and were asking people to avoid the downtown area, according to a Facebook post from the Abilene Fire Department.

The roof later burned through, according to a fire department official.

No injuries have been reported.

Electricity to the building was cut off. The fire is being called an electrical fire in published reports. About 60 firefighters responded.

About 25 people on the staff were evacuated and all electricity to the building has been turned off, an Abilene Reporter News online story said.

Firefighters had reduced the flames enough to re-enter the building and assess the damage about 11:35 a.m., the Abilene newspaper reported.

This story was originally published November 15, 2018 at 1:03 PM.