UPDATE: Apartments evacuated as precaution while crews battle fire in Rock Island

Crews were called to the area after a witness called in just before 4 a.m. Responding crews saw flames on the second floor and due to it getting too hot, crews were pulled out of the building. They then began fighting the fire from the outside. The building has been vacant for quite some time according to the fire chief.

Metrolink has been notified by officials in case there is a disruption to traffic patterns while 1st Avenue is closed.

The police department and the county sheriff helped evacuate the neighboring apartments as a precaution. The fire chief tells TV-6 he is not sure when they will be allowed back in their apartments.

Commuters are encouraged to avoid the area. We have a crew on scene and will be updating this story as information becomes available.

Rock Island Fire, Arsenal Fire and Moline Fire Departments are assisting to extinguish the fire.