MOSCOW — A massive fire raged at a former headquarters of the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow on Sunday before it was brought under control several hours later.

Hundreds of firefighters and several cranes battled the blaze, which broke out Sunday morning. Seven people were rescued from the building and about 50 others fled to safety.

At least one firefighter was hospitalized.

Igor Denisov of the Emergency Situations Ministry in Moscow told Russian news agencies that firefighters were able to contain the blaze, which had spread over 37,000 square feet. Officials said three of the five floors were damaged, and the roof partly collapsed.

There were no immediate reports about the cause, but the Interfax news agency said officials were looking at faulty wiring.

The Defense Ministry moved to a new headquarters on the Moskva River in 2014 but kept the old building near the Kremlin.

It said the old building on Znamenka Street, parts of which date to the 18th century, houses the departments in charge of procurement and services.

Associated Press