The United States (US) Capitol complex in Washington DC was shut down for about an hour on Monday (January 18) out of an abundance of caution after a small fire broke out nearby, underscoring security jitters days before President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.
The Capitol Police in a statement said the lockdown was lifted and the fire nearby was contained.
“Out of an abundance of caution the US Capitol complex was temporarily shutdown. There is no threat to the public,” the US Secret Service said on Twitter.
The Capitol Police earlier said that as a precautionary measure its acting chief shut down the complex, which consists of the Capitol, its grounds and several buildings.
The city’s fire department posted on Twitter that firefighters put out a fire outside near the Capitol complex and that no one was injured.
“There were no injuries,” the department said. It added, “This accounts for smoke that many have seen.”
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