Fire damaged part of a landmark hotel in the heart of downtown Rochester on Sunday morning.

The blaze broke out about 8:40 a.m. on the 11th floor of the Kahler Grand Hotel across the street from the Mayo Clinic, according to the Fire Department.

The fire was in a staff kitchen break room on the 11th floor, which was evacuated because of smoke.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

The flames damaged the break room's cabinets, appliances and other furnishings.

There also was smoke damage on the 11th floor; water from the sprinkler system caused damage on the 10th and 11th floors.

One person was treated at the scene by medical personnel and released, fire officials said.

They credited a single sprinkler head for containing the fire.

"Fire sprinklers are widely recognized as the single most effective method for fighting the spread of fires in their early stages before they can cause severe injury to people and damage to property," the department said in a statement.

The Kahler has been welcoming guests for nearly a century, with its signature neon sign among the most recognizable images in the Rochester skyline.

Among those who have stayed there are Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan, actor Jimmy Stewart and boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482