Fire at Center City's Parker Spruce Hotel

Crews were working Monday afternoon to put out a small fire at the Parker Spruce Hotel in Center City, Philadelphia.

At 3:45 p.m., smoke was billowing from a 9th floor window of the hotel, located at 261 S. 13th Street in Washington Square West.

The 12-story structure was evacuated and no one was hurt, according to the fire department.

"On the north side of the building, there was a lot of smoke coming out of one of the windows," said Greta Iverson, an intern for NBC10 who was walking down the street when alarms went off inside the hotel. "I heard popping noises. I think it might have been the heat, breaking the glass."   

13th Street was closed between Spruce and Locust during the afternoon rush. Red Cross workers are currently assisting around 100 people who were affected by the fire.

In 1924, the hotel opened as a bachelor apartment called the Spruce Hotel and became a popular spot for musicians. Currently, the building has the reputation of a neighborhood eyesore according to The Gayborhood Guru blog and comments in Spencer Starnes' documentary:

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