Fire reported at Suit Corner building

A two-alarm fire broke out this morning at the Suit Corner building in Old City, closing nearby streets and detouring bus traffic shortly after the morning rush hour.

The Philadelphia Fire Department said the blaze at the building at 3rd and Market streets was reported just before 9:15 a.m. was declared under control at 10:37 a.m.

Streets around the store were closed and SEPTA bus routes 17, 21, 33, 48 and 57 were detoured while firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze. Flames were still visible from the top floor of the building for more than an hour after the fire broke out.

Fire officials at the scene said the cause of the blaze remains unknown, and the fire marshal's office is investigating.

Emergency responders confronted heavy smoke and fire as they battled the blaze. One firefighter was injured and being treated for a potential sprained ankle, but no other injuries were reported, the fire department said.

Suit Corner owner Gary Ginsberg said a ball of fire erupted from near a window just after the business opened for the day.

"It just exploded," he said. "Thank God nobody got hurt."

Eight employees were in the store at the time. No customers were inside.

Ginsberg and another employee tried to use a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze but "it was too strong."

The fire did not spread to an adjacent apartment building, officials said. A team from the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania had been placed on standby in case residents were displaced and assistance was needed.