Smoke forces evacuation of White House West Wing
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Responding to call from the White House, District of Columbia fire trucks and personnel are set up between the West Wing of the White House, left, and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, right, Saturday, May 11, 2013, in Washington. Reporters and photographers were evacuated briefly from the West Wing because of smoke from an overheated transformer in a mechanical room. President Barack Obama and his family were not affected by the incident, according to the White House. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Responding to call from the White House, District of Columbia fire trucks and personnel are set up between the West Wing of the White House, left, and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, right, Saturday, May 11, 2013, in Washington. Reporters and photographers were evacuated briefly from the West Wing because of smoke from an overheated transformer in a mechanical room. President Barack Obama and his family were not affected by the incident, according to the White House. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
WASHINGTON >> Reporters and photographers were evacuated briefly from the West Wing of the White House early today because of smoke from an overheated transformer in a mechanical room.
President Barack Obama and his family were not affected by the incident, according to the White House.
U.S. Secret Service spokesman Max Milien said that at about 7 a.m., smoke was seen coming from a mechanical room closet on the first floor.
Journalists and others were evacuated out of “an abundance of caution” and the District of Columbia fire department was called, he said.
People were allowed back into the building about an hour later.
No injuries were reported.
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