A small fire near the top of the Eiffel Tower was extinguished shortly aftererupting tonight, Paris police said. The fire caused panic among tourists but noinjuries.
The company that operates the Eiffel Tower confirmed that the fire took placeon an upper level where technical installations are located. The level is notaccessible to tourists.
Tourists can visit the three lower levels, but the fire broke out on the levelabove those open to the public, according to Eiffel Tower security.
Thick grey smoke began to taper off shortly after the fire was reported.Reports said the flames may have erupted in an area housing TV and radioequipment.
Fire engines and rescue vehicles gathered at the base of the tower. Streams ofvisitors filed out after the structure was evacuated.
A red helicopter swooped around the tower, inspecting the lower floors. Policeblocked off access as tourists waited on the grass below, taking photographs orpeering up through binoculars.
The same portion of the tower caught fire in 1956, destroying the structure'ssummit.
The 1,069ft iron-laced tower draws six million visitors a year, making it theworld's most popular paying tourist attraction. The tower was built by GustaveEiffel for the 1889 World's Fair. AP