Fire Burns at Old Executive Office Building - Next To The White House

BREAKING NEWS -

WTOP 103.5FM - December 19, 2007 - 10:05am ET

WHITE HOUSE - A fire at the Old Executive Office Building on the White House grounds is under control.

"The fire is contained. It appears to be accidental at this time," D.C. Fire and Rescue spokesman Alan Etter tells WTOP.

No one has been injured and the building has been evacuated, Etter says.

WTOP's Capitol Hill Correspondent Dave McConnell, who is on the scene, says smoke had been billowing from a second story window. At one point, there was dark smoke coming from the building.

The blaze appeared to be located near the ceremonial office of Vice President Dick Cheney on the second floor of the building. The vice president was across the street in his office in the West Wing of the White House.

Television images showed firefighters breaking windows in offices where flames are clearly visible inside.

The Executive Office Building houses the Office of Management and Budget and staff of the National Security Council and other agencies.

CNN reports renovations are underway at the building.

(Copyright 2007 by WTOP and The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

WHITE HOUSE - A fire at the Old Executive Office Building on the White House grounds is under control.

"The fire is contained. It appears to be accidental at this time," D.C. Fire and Rescue spokesman Alan Etter tells WTOP.

No one has been injured and the building has been evacuated, Etter says.

WTOP's Capitol Hill Correspondent Dave McConnell, who is on the scene, says smoke had been billowing from a second story window. At one point, there was dark smoke coming from the building.

The blaze appeared to be located near the ceremonial office of Vice President Dick Cheney on the second floor of the building. The vice president was across the street in his office in the West Wing of the White House.

Television images showed firefighters breaking windows in offices where flames are clearly visible inside.

The Executive Office Building houses the Office of Management and Budget and staff of the National Security Council and other agencies.

CNN reports renovations are underway at the building.