A discarded cigarette sparked a small fire Monday at Corned Beef and Co. in downtown Roanoke.

Firefighters were called to the restaurant in the 100 block of Jefferson Street about 11:30 a.m., said Roanoke Fire-EMS spokeswoman Tiffany Bradbury.

When they arrived, they found light smoke coming from the front of the building, Bradbury said. Some smoke was also inside.

Several people in the building were evacuated, Bradbury said.

Firefighters found a small fire behind a sign in the front of the building. It appeared that a cigarette had been improperly discarded on the balcony and fell behind the sign, Bradbury said.

Damage to the building was minimal, and the restaurant has reopened, she said.

Traffic in the 100 block of Jefferson Street was blocked until fire trucks left the scene.

-- Amanda Codispoti