By Diana Rocco

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Smoke in the hallways forced the evacuation of a Center City high-rise Tuesday night.

Officials say firefighters were called to the corner of Broad and Chestnuts Streets just before 8 p.m.

“We smelled smoke and especially when we came out here there was a lot of smell of smoke,” Tiffany Eichler said.

Broad Street was closed while firefighters tried to locate the flame. It turns out they were coming from a burning mattress and garbage outside the building.

“It did not penetrate the building, there’s no damage to the building,” Fire Chief Carl Randall said.

It took two engines about 30 minutes to find the fire, which left dozens of people on the street, in the cold.

It took several hours for the building to air out. Eventually, everyone displaced was allowed back inside.

The fire remains under investigation.