Chicago City Hall Evacuated After Small Fire

A small fire broke out Wednesday morning at Chicago City Hall, located at 118 N. Clark St., prompting an evacuation during an ongoing City Council meeting. The fire started around 11:30 a.m. in a records storage area on the Cook County side of the building and was quickly extinguished by the Chicago Fire Department. No injuries were reported, although paramedics were on scene to evaluate a few individuals. The evacuation led to temporary street closures around the building, but no structural damage was noted. The cause of the fire was identified as the accidental ignition of paper products, with some reports initially suggesting it was an electrical fire in a mechanical room. By early afternoon, the situation was under control, and people were allowed to re-enter the building.