rob10
10-17-2004, 03:29 PM
Updated: 12:52 PM EDT
Broken Air Intake Makes West Wing Smoky
WASHINGTON (Oct. 17) - An air circulation unit went on the fritz at the White House Sunday and sent smoke through parts of the West Wing.
"What happened is the air intake unit was malfunctioning and that caused the smoke," Secret Service spokeswoman Ann Roman said. "There was no evacuation."
Smoke filled several areas of the West Wing, including the White House briefing room, cubicles used by the press and offices occupied by the Bush administration's communications officials. Television cameramen stationed in the briefing room at the time said the smoke smelled like burning wires, but Roman said there was no fire.
She said the problem occurred in the basement near the press lobby. Members of the media and a smoke detector alarm that sounded at 10:22 a.m. EDT alerted White House personnel to the problem. Doors were opened and fans were set up to ventilate the area. Within an hour or so, the smoke and odor had dissipated.
10/17/04 12:40 EDT
Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
Broken Air Intake Makes West Wing Smoky
WASHINGTON (Oct. 17) - An air circulation unit went on the fritz at the White House Sunday and sent smoke through parts of the West Wing.
"What happened is the air intake unit was malfunctioning and that caused the smoke," Secret Service spokeswoman Ann Roman said. "There was no evacuation."
Smoke filled several areas of the West Wing, including the White House briefing room, cubicles used by the press and offices occupied by the Bush administration's communications officials. Television cameramen stationed in the briefing room at the time said the smoke smelled like burning wires, but Roman said there was no fire.
She said the problem occurred in the basement near the press lobby. Members of the media and a smoke detector alarm that sounded at 10:22 a.m. EDT alerted White House personnel to the problem. Doors were opened and fans were set up to ventilate the area. Within an hour or so, the smoke and odor had dissipated.
10/17/04 12:40 EDT
Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.