More than 1,000 people were evacuated from TSUM, a large department store in central Moscow. Firefighters went looking for the fire’s source with thermal detectors, while smoke billowed from the building.
Traffic in the vicinity of the department store was virtually blocked by fire engines and emergency service vehicles.
Videos from the scene show smoke coming from the roof of the iconic store.
The emergency started when fat residue caught fire in a basement ventilation duct coming from a cafe kitchen, an Emergency Ministry spokesperson told the media. No one was injured in the blaze.
Around 60 people took part in putting out the fire, RIA Novosti reported.