Senate buildings evacuated

UPDAT: The U.S. Capitol Police gave the “all clear” Wednesday afternoon following a fire in the Hart Senate Office Building that had led to the evacuation of hundreds of staffers.

The Senate Hart and Dirksen Office Buildings were evacuated shortly after 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

 

There are at least four fire trucks and an ambulance at the scene as hundreds of aides left the buildings. Senate staffers told The Hill that this was not a planned drill, though it is unclear why fire and rescue personnel were called.

 

“Evacuating hart & dirksen due to confirmed fire & audible alarm. Fire near sh-b01,” U.S. Capitol Police spokeswoman Sergeant Kimberly Schneider, said in an e-mail.