Berlin - Smoke from a fire in the empty quarantine station at Berlin's Tegel Airport reduced visibility for planes taking off and landing Thursday, but an airport spokesman said there were no cancellations.

In continuous rain, firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze in a building where passengers with dangerous infectious diseases and illegally imported animals are normally kept. It had not been in use Thursday.

The spokesman said no one was injured. Tegel, which is one of Berlin's two international airports, is destined for closure when the other airport, Schoenefeld, has been redeveloped.

The site of the fire was next to the airport's military precinct, where planes that carry government officials are parked. The Defence Ministry said that area was not in danger. (dpa)