BEIJING  A fierce blaze started by an illegal fireworks show engulfed one of the Chinese capital’s most architecturally celebrated modern buildings on Monday, the last day of festivities for the Lunar New Year, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday.

The fire was not extinguished until early Tuesday morning. Xinhua, quoting a fire official, said a fireworks company had been hired to ignite several hundred large firecrackers in an open space outside the building, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, which was under construction.

The official described them as illegal fireworks that much more powerful and explosive than those sold at roadside stalls.

One firefighter was killed and seven people were injured, including six firefighters, according to Xinhua.