Fire Breaks Out at Eisenhower Executive Office Building
posted 4:48 pm Wed December 19, 2007 - Washington
More than 1,000 people who work in the building were evacuated. The fire broke out on the second floor of the building around about 9:15 a.m. and was under control within a half hour, District of Columbia fire department spokesman Alan Etter said.
Afterward, Bush and Cheney appeared on West Executive Avenue, between the White House and the damaged building, to thank District of Columbia firefighters. A fire tanker nearby still had its ladder extended to a window on the blackened second floor. The blaze was located in Cheney's suite of ceremonial offices. His working office is in the West Wing. Secret Service spokesman Darrin Blackford said the building was evacuated as a precaution. District of Columbia firefighters poured water on the blaze, broke windows and moved furniture onto a balcony.
There were no reports of serious injuries, Etter said. A U.S. Marine stationed at the building smashed a fifth-floor window to escape from the smoke and had to be rescued from the ledge, he said. The man suffered a minor cut to his hand.
The building remained evacuated while firefighters ventilated the smoke, Etter said. The displaced employees were sent to other offices or went home.
The extent of water, fire and smoke damage was unclear.
Investigators were working to determine the cause of the blaze, Etter said. The smoke appeared to come from an electrical closet on the building's second floor.
The Executive Office Building, a commanding structure with a granite, slate and cast iron exterior at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street, houses the Office of Management and Budget and staff of the National Security Council and other agencies.
Originally built for the State, War and Navy Departments between 1871 and 1888, the building was renamed in honor of President Dwight Eisenhower during the Clinton administration.
|
|
|
Latest Comment on Fire Breaks Out at Eisenhower Executive Office Building
Emily Wilson
12:57 pm on 12/19/07
It is the Old Executive Office Building to the majority of us who were raised here and will remain that way just as Ronald Reagan Airport is still Washington National Airport. What difference does it make - probably none to the rest of the America. This business of changing names to fit a person is crazy. Build a new building and name it after them if it's that important. I liked Eisenhower and Reagan but that's not the point. It cost too much to rename things and causes more problems than it's worth. Why get so upset when someone calls it by its original name? I'm sure Eisenhower and Reagan could care less now! The families have the satisfaction of knowing who they were and the place they serve in history without naming a building after them. Also, if it mattered, I would say Woodrow Wilson is turning overn in his grave over a bridge that has bombed out and took so many years to figure out it needed to be rebuilt. By the time it is rebuilt, we will still need another way of getting from Virginia to Maryland because the traffic is always growing; especially with the new complex of hotels in Maryland, just the other side of the bridge. Hey, that's an idea: name the NEW bridge (when it is built--if ever) after someone famous and important to history. Like maybe, the "Bush Bridge". I think you are a great President, Mr. Bush and Laura is a wonderful wife and First Lady, and we pray for you daily. Praise God no one was injured bad and the Fire Department did a great job of getting it out before it was destroyed as old as it is. Thank you to all those who worked to put it out and helped to save lives.
Not a member yet? Click Here to sign up.
Please leave your comments below:
Messages that harass, abuse or threaten other members; have obscene or otherwise objectionable content; have spam, commercial or
advertising content or inappropriate links may be removed and may result in the loss of your posting privileges.
Please do not post any private information unless you want it to be available publicly.
Never assume that you are completely anonymous and cannot be identified by your posts.
© 2007 WJLA-TV
© 2007 The Associated Press
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The 'RUNNING MAN' icon is a registered trademark of America Online, Inc.
ABC 7 News to leave comments on news stories.