Multiple Fires Break Out Near White House During George Floyd Protests in Washington, D.C.
As protests following the death of George Floyd continue across the country, several fires broke out near the White House, including at St. John’s Church, an official U.S. National Historic Landmark built in 1815, the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia reports.
“MPD is currently responding to multiple fires intentionally set around the city, including at St. John’s Episcopal Church in the 1500 blk of H Street, NW, with @dcfireems. This church has been standing in our city since the early 1800s. Please avoid the area,” the MPD wrote in a post Monday on its official Twitter account.
The District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (DC Fire and EMS) was reported to be extinguishing a fire in the basement of the church and checking for an extension of the fire, the department confirmed in a post Monday on its official Twitter account.
Located across the street from the White House, St. John’s Church is an Episcopal church known as “the Church of the Presidents,” having been attended by every U.S. president since James Madison. “Pew 54 is the President’s Pew, and is reserved for the President’s use when in attendance at the church,” the church notes.
The DC Fire and EMS department also confirmed it extinguished a fire at “a comfort station in Lafayette Park,” which sits across from the White House.
A building in the park with bathrooms and a maintenance office was reported to have gone up in flames, according to the Associated Press.
A pile of road signs and plastic barriers as well as an American flag from a building were set on fire in a street near Lafayette Park following days of protests by more than 1,000 demonstrators, AP reports.
Clouds of smoke could be seen from the flames mixed with smoke from tear gas fired by police in an attempt to clear out demonstrators from the area, Reuters reports.
The department also extinguished fire in “the lobby of the AFL-CIO [American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations] building at 16th and I Sts NW. working hand-in-hand with law enforcement. Fire Chief Gregory Dean and senior staff on scene coordinating,” according to another post Monday on its official Twitter account.
The department was also reported to be “currently extinguishing a small fire inside the commercial building in the 1000 block of F St NW. We also extinguished a small fire at 803 15th St NW,” according to a post Monday on its official Twitter account, and fires at least two CVS pharmacies in the area.
“2000 M St NW. Fire in a CVS. #DCsBravest have the fire knocked down and are checking for extension. 1900 7th St NW CVS pharmacy. Fire has been knocked down. Checking for extension and removing smoke. The other CVS fire in the 3600 block of Georgia Ave NW is under control. No injuries at either location,” the department confirmed on its official Twitter account.
Newsweek has contacted the MPD as well as the DC Fire and EMS for an update on the situation.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a citywide curfew from 11 p.m. local time on Sunday (May 31) to 6 a.m. local time on Monday (June 1).
“During the hours of the curfew, no person, other than persons designated by the Mayor, shall walk, bike, run, loiter, stand, or motor by car or other mode of transport upon any street, alley, park, or other public place within the District,” the mayor’s office announced in a statement.
“Individuals performing essential duties as authorized by prior Mayor’s Orders, including working media with their outlet-issued credentials and healthcare personnel, are exempt when engaged in essential functions,” the statement notes.
On Friday, President Donald Trump reportedly spent nearly an hour in the bunker of the White House designed for use during emergencies such as terrorist attacks, a Republican close to the White House told AP on condition of anonymity. The incident was also confirmed to AP by an administration official who also spoke on condition of anonymity.
Protests have been raging in cities across the country following the death of Floyd, who was pinned to the ground by a knee to his neck during an arrest made by the Minneapolis Police Department. Around 4,400 people have been arrested so far following the days of protests, according to AP.
On Friday, CNN reporter Omar Jimenez and his news crew were arrested live on air while covering the protests in Minneapolis. They have since been released from police custody.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz apologized to CNN for the “totally unacceptable” arrest of Jimenez and his crew. Walz said he accepted full responsibility for the incident, noting Jimenez and his team clearly had the right to report on the protests, according to CNN.
More than 40 people were arrested in New York City last week following clashes between demonstrators and the police.
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