Fire hits historic building in downtown Cairo

Cairo: A fire has damaged a historic apartment building in downtown Cairo, injuring four people and sending huge plumes of smoke over the city.

Fire fighters doused the six-story building with water on Saturday as flames leapt from its upper floors and black smoke billowed into the sky.

The site, near Egypt's High Court, was under renovation as part of a program to restore downtown Cairo's 19th century buildings.

Cairo has been hit by several major fires recently, leading to criticism of poorly enforced safety rules. In August, the building housing Egypt's upper house of parliament was heavily damaged. One fire fighter was killed in that blaze, which raged for 18 hours.

Fire gutted the main hall of Egypt's National Theatre a month later.