Massive fire burns French Quarter building in New Orleans

Smoke billowed from the roof of a building in the 1000 block of Canal Street.

New Orleans Director of Homeland Security Aaron Miller says the fire remains under investigation.

Michael Valentine, who was staying at the Roosevelt hotel next door to the fire said that there was smoke in the hallways at the hotel and that guests were discombobulated by the fire.

There is a “high probability” of the building’s collapse, NOFD said.

Only one person is known to have been in the building when the fire was called in around 3:24 a.m. CT (4:24 a.m. ET).

They were awakened by a fire alarm their building around 3:30 a.m.

Fifth and six alarms were dispatched at 4:00 a.m. and 4:27 a.m. respectively, as the fire began to spread to neighboring businesses.

New Orleans firefighters are battling a large blaze Wednesday morning in the 1000 block of Canal Street between South Rampart Street and Roosevelt Way in the Central Business District, officials said.

Riders will be transferred to buses at this time. The road is blocked both directions. Further details are forthcoming.