Firecrackers blamed for hotel fire near Beijing´s new CCTV headquarters, seven injured

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The hotel was used during the Olympics, but the hotel won't officially open until mid-2009. Witnesses said some lights had been on in the hotel.

The picture taken on the night of Feb. 9, 2009  shows a big fire is engulfing a building next to  the new tower of China Central Television (CCTV)  in east Beijing. No casuality is reported yet and  the cause of the fire is under investigation. (Xinhua Photo)

As Monday is China's traditional Lantern Festival, the end of the Lunar New Year holiday, fireworks were being set off nearby.

A young man who declined to be identified said the fire had apparently started at about 8:25 p.m. Monday, when firecrackers landed on the top of the building. Police couldn't immediately confirm that account.

The man, who claimed he had worked with the construction company that built the hotel, said he saw someone on watch on the CCTV main tower with a hose when firecrackers were set off. "But I didn't see any on top of the hotel," he added.