Building On White House Grounds On Fire – Eisenhower Executive Office Building
December 19, 2007 by national
Filed under Incident Reports
A fire is burning at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House grounds.
Television images show firefighters breaking windows in offices where flames are clearly visible inside. Smoke is rising above the building.
Thick black smoke is pouring from the second floor of 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.
Secret Service spokesman Darrin Blackford said the Old Executive Office building was evacuated as a precaution. District of Columbia firefighters poured water on the blaze and moved furniture from the building onto a balcony.
The Executive Office Building houses the Office of Management and Budget and staff of the National Security Council and other agencies.
According to the White House Web site, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building was built between 1871 and 1888, originally for the State, War and Navy Departments.
