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Firefighters battle blaze in building on White House campus.


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Fire hits building next door to White House

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Firefighters battled thick smoke and flames Wednesday inside the historic Eisenhower Executive Office Building, next door to the White House, which houses the vice president's ceremonial offices.

Smoke billows from a window in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on Wednesday.

They used axes to break windows on the third floor of the ornate building shortly after the blaze broke out after 9 a.m.
The fire started near the vice presidential offices, CNN's Kathleen Koch reported.
Fifteen firetrucks, including three ladder trucks, responded to the call. Watch smoke pouring from building »
The entire building was evacuated, a D.C. Fire Department spokesman said.
Within an hour, smoke had stopped pouring from the building.
Vice President Dick Cheney's working offices are in the West Wing of the White House, and he was not in the EEOB at the time of the fire. See how close building is to the White House »
There were no reports of injuries from the blaze, which appeared to be confined to the third floor, perhaps in an electrical closet or a telephone bank, said D.C. Fire Department spokesman Alan Etter.

The building, built between 1871 and 1888, is also called the Old Executive Office Building. It was originally built for the State, War and Navy Departments and is an example of the French Second Empire style of architecture, according to a government Web site.
The building is the site of a number of events, including ceremonial signings, news conferences and photo opportunities.



Source: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/19/eob.fire/index.html