At 9:30 a.m. Friday any work being done at police headquarters came to an immediate halt after an elevator motor caught fire.

The building was evacuated - and three HPD employees were treated for minor smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion. Several more were sent home after it was determined that their floors were not safe to work in.

“There is some smoke up there that the fire department will need a few hours to get out of the building. So (floors) 18 and above can go home,” HPD police Chief George Buenik said.

For years, HPD personnel have complained about the condition of the old building, which was left un-maintained for years.

They also complain about central patrol headquarters at 61 Riesner, just a few blocks away.

You might remember when Sgt. Mike McCombs gave 11 News a three-hour tour of many of their rundown facilities last year.

Specifically at Travis where the elevators have been the main concern. Daily, people are stuck because of the old system that operates there. So old, in fact, the parts are hard to find.

Well, late Friday night an assistant chief called 11 News to tell us that “miraculously” after today's fire a $2.4 million expense to put in new elevators had been approved.

Construction he says should begin in December.

HPD says eventually it would like to build an entirely new police headquarters.