Fire at Smithsonian Institution

[JT Allen]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Officials say a fire broke out at a building near the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, emitting a plume of black smoke and closing area streets.

 

Smithsonian spokeswoman Linda St. Thomas says a building detached from the museum that contains the facility's cooling tower caught fire early Monday. She says it appears the fire started while a contractor was working in the mechanical building.

 

No smoke entered the main building, where millions of artifacts and specimens are housed. The museum opened to visitors Monday shortly after its regular opening of 10 a.m.

 

D.C. Deputy Fire Chief Ken Crosswhite says the fire did not pose a risk to the museum. No injuries were reported.

[Guest Tonya]

Thank Heaven. I was worried that the Hope Diamond was destroyed.

[JT Allen]

Firefighters have it tough:

 

 

WASHINGTON (WUSA) -- One child has died, a firefighter is in serious condition and a dozen people have been displaced after a house fire in Southeast DC.

 

DCFD was called to 3113 Buena Vista Terrace SE for the report of a house fire at approximately 6:25 p.m. Friday, says DC Fire Assistant Chief Ken Crosswhite.

 

Firefighters arrived to find fire coming from a two-story duplex, says Crosswhite. They rescued 5-year-old. He was taken to an area hospital in serious condition suffering from burns. 9NEWS NOW was then told he was in critical condition and shortly after, DC Police told 9NEWS NOW the child had died.

 

One firefighter was burned while making the rescue. His condition is listed as serious.

[Guest Elias]

Can fire destroy a diamond???