Capital Square reopened after fire evacuation at downtown Des Moines building

A fire on the third floor of the Capital Square complex forced the downtown Des Moines building to be temporarily evacuated Thursday morning.

The fire started sometime before 8 a.m. at the building, located in the 400 block of Locust Street. From the street, flames could be seen in the windows.

The fire was put out quickly and was mostly contained to one room, according to Des Moines Police Department spokesman Rick Thomas. The fire was kept “in check” by sprinklers until fire personnel arrived.

"Crews arrived at 7:42 this morning," Thomas said. "By 8:02 most of the fire was knocked down."

No injuries have been reported. Thomas is unaware of anyone reported on the floor where the fire took place.

Jeff McClintock, 62, who works at the Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel across Locust Street, saw the fire and helped alert those in the building.

"When I went outside and saw flames through the window, I said 'Oh God, there's a fire,'" McClintock said. He and other witnesses attempted to alert those still in the building to evacuate.

"I was waving at the people at the floors above the fire," McClintock said.

The cause of the fire was unknown.

An investigation is ongoing.

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Andrea Sahouri covers breaking news for the Des Moines Register. She can be contacted at asahouri@registermedia.com, 515-284-8247 or on Twitter at @andreamsahouri.

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