Fire caused extensive damage to a vacant building on North Goodman Street early Tuesday morning. The building was in the process of being renovated into offices.
It's located near the Memorial Art Gallery, and although the "MAG" was not damaged, officials there are taking some precautionary steps, including closing the Gallery both Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Memorial Art Gallery is far enough away from that raging three-alarm fire that flames did not damage the museum. But officials there decided to temporarily close the facility, partly because of a concern about all of the smoke in the area possibly getting into the building.
Museum Director Jonathan Binstock says the gallery temporarily has shut down its air handling systems, so as not to move any of that smoke into the museum. And that situation he says could make it somewhat uncomfortable for visitors.
He also says they've hired a firm that specializes in clearing smoke from buildings.
"We’re also running air scrubbers with the help of a commercial remediation specialist and I think it's best that the public stay out while we're maintaining the safety and security of the facility."
Binstock emphasized that no art works were damaged. He says the only building in that complex that got some smoke inside is the Cutler Union building, which is limited to office space. The Memorial Art Gallery hopes to reopen on Thursday.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
