Flash fire closes State Department for several hours
Posted: 07:12 AM ET
By Shannan Butler
CNN
WASHINGTON (CNN) — The State Department was reopened Thursday morning
after a flash fire in an unoccupied part of the building forced it to close
earlier in the day.
District of Columbia Fire Spokesman Alan Etter said the building was
closed at 4:30 a.m. when the fire occurred on the fifth floor of the building
during an asbestos abatement project.
Etter said the fire occurred in a portion of the building that is not
occupied and that there were no reports of injuries.
Etter said firefighters didn’t uncover any apparent damage to the
building and were making sure the fire did not spread. Fire Department and
hazardous materials teams remained on the scene.