Story highlights The cause of the fire doesn't appear to be suspicious

The blaze is burning along the city's famous Canal Street

(CNN) A huge six-alarm fire burned in the heart of New Orleans early Wednesday, just outside the French Quarter, authorities said.

Smoke billowed from the roof of a building in the 1000 block of Canal Street and flames shot high into the black morning sky.

New Orleans Fire Chief Tim McConnell said the fire is under investigation, but the cause of the blaze doesn't appear to be suspicious.

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).