MOSCOW, January 29. /ITAR-TASS/. The fire in an old building in central Moscow is brought under control, a city police source told Itar-Tass.

The fire is stopped from spreading. Firefighters are working to completely extinguish the blaze, the source said.

According to preliminary information, nobody was hurt.

The fire broke out at about 15:30 Moscow time (11:30 GMT) at Building 26, Pyatnitskaya Street. Two restaurants occupy the building.

It took firefighters seven minutes to arrive at the site.

The blaze has swept 500 square meters. Thick black smoke was billowing from the building. Open flame was seen. Pyatnitskaya Street was blocked for transport traffic.

According to the administration, there were no people in the building.

The fire broke out on the roof and then spread in the old two-storey building, causing an explosion of a gas cylinder. The building may collapse.

It is an old building constructed in the late 18th century and reconstructed in the 19th century by architect Gushchin.