A Butler building housing several businesses sustained smoke and heat damage to its second level from a fire this afternoon.

Butler firefighters were on the scene of the 12:15 p.m. fire within moments and only needed about a half-hour to control the situation at 10 Pittsburgh Road.

The southbound lanes of Route 8 were closed for about two hours while emergency crews worked.

No flames were visible on the building, but firefighters cut holes into its roof to vent the smoke, spraying foam inside the attic to snuff out any embers.

The blaze started in the leftmost business in the building, a dress and bridal shop called Perfectly Planned Memories, but no determination has been made as to what sparked it.

"It started upstairs, whatever it was. If you went to the door (to the upstairs), you could hear the crackling inside," said Ryan McKivigan, whose family owns the building.

He said the property is insured and a firewall that partitions the building likely saved neighboring businesses.

According to business owner Kathy Wallace, who has operated Perfectly Planned Memories at its current location for almost two years, the upstairs of her shop was used for storage.

Wallace was in the office of her business when the fire alarm sounded, but escaped uninjured.

The Butler Arts Council rents the space next to Wallace's shop. Firefighters cut ventilation holes cut into its roof as well.

An Irene Stacy rehabilitation center occupies the next office space, followed by an auto repair shop, both of which appeared undamaged.

About 20 emergency personnel from the Butler and Butler Township police, Butler Fire Department and Butler Ambulance Service responded.