Police were directing traffic on Merchant and Bethel streets this afternoon after firefighters responded to a fire in the basement of a downtown office building.

The fire was reported about 4:35 p.m. in the basement of the Judd Building at Merchant Street and Fort Street Mall. Firefighters found an electrical fire in an electrical vault and extinguished the fire upon arrival, according to radio communications.

Constructed in 1898, the building was Alexander & Baldwin’s principal office when the company incorporated in 1900, according to A&B Properties’ website.

Fire broke out in the basement of the building last year, on Sept. 4.

The cause of that fire was blamed on electrical arcing from heavy rains. Firefighters contained the fire in the basement. Damage was estimated at $21,000.