PORTLAND, Ore. -- Flames destroyed the Macadam Center office and retail complex Sunday night.
The fire broke out at 7 p.m. in the building at 5125 SW Macadam Ave. Within two hours, the building's roof collapsed.
Because of its age, the building did not require a sprinkler system and did not have one, a Portland Fire & Rescue Bureau official told KGW on Monday morning.
Among the businesses inside the Macadam Center are Cau's Deli, Picture Perfect photo, Documart, Roberts Salon and Macadam Nail Boutique.
Some employees were inside the building when the fire broke out and they were able to safely get out. There were no injuries reported.
The person who called in the fire reported seeing smoke coming from an electrical box. Investigators are looking at that as a possible cause. There were also early reports of smoke coming from an elevator shaft, said Bureau spokesman Kim Kosmas.
Firefighters entered the building and found smoke throughout the first floor. Everyone had evacuated.
The second-story floor felt "spongy," Kosmas said, a sure sign that its integrity was failing. Firefighters could not find a source for the fire.
Firefighters were pulled out of the building and five fire engines poured water onto the building for hours. Some 100 firefighters responded to the blaze. The fire was declared under control at 12:30 a.m. Monday.
Eric Thornburg told KGW he drove by the building shortly after firefighters arrived.
"We came back about an hour and a half later and the side of the building had collapsed," he said.