A fire broke out at the second floor of Manila City Hall early Wednesday, prompting the Bureau of Fire Protection to raise the first alarm before declaring the blaze under control and later extinguished.

According to a report by RH Tina Nolasco, initial information showed the fire started in the kitchen area of the Office of the Vice Mayor, which is located beside the Manila City Hall Press Club office.

BFP Chief Inspector Demetrio Sablan said no important documents were destroyed in the fire. No one was hurt because there were no people inside the office when the fire broke out.

The BFP said smoke was first seen at 5:54 a.m., with the first alarm raised at 5:57 a.m. The fire was placed under control at 6:15 a.m. and declared out at 6:21 a.m.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The blaze disrupted several services at City Hall, including the Crisis Intervention Unit and the Persons with Disability Office, which normally provide medical and legal assistance to residents.

Several senior citizens and other Manila residents had already lined up as early as 1 to 2 a.m. Wednesday to seek assistance. A social welfare officer said some of their documents were damaged by water used to put out the fire, but assured them that office operations would resume Thursday.

Vice Mayor Chi Atienza assured residents that her office will continue operations Wednesday despite the fire.

Atienza said the affected area will be cleaned and tables will be set up outside the office so her staff can continue providing assistance to Manila residents who need help.

Operations at the rest of Manila City Hall continued as the fire did not affect other areas of the building.