Fire near Second City theatre causes extensive damage, prompts cancellation of shows

CHICAGO – Four firefighters and one other person have been injured in a fire in a building that houses the offices of Chicago’s famed Second City theatre company.

Wednesday’s fire did not reach the theatre in Chicago’s Old Town neighbourhood that launched the careers of scores of comedians and actors, including John Belushi, Tina Fey and Bill Murray. However, Second City announced that shows and classes for the day have been cancelled.

Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford tells reporters the fire apparently started in the kitchen of a restaurant next to the theatre and spread through vents to the roof and caused extensive damage to the Second City offices.

Langford says the four firefighters and a worker at the building had minor injuries. Their conditions had stabilized at hospitals.