The U.S. Capitol building and the Capitol Visitor Center were evacuated midday Tuesday after alarms went off in both buildings, but employees were allowed to return to work after a short time after a determination that a faulty kitchen exhaust fan was to blame.
The House and Senate are not in session, so the alarm only forced staff to leave the building around noontime. Shortly after 2 p.m., Capitol Police said they believed there was no danger, and that alarms were tripped by a “known problem with environmental controls with the kitchen exhaust fan,” according to the Associated Press.
U.S. Capitol Police and D.C. Fire and EMS were on the scene to investigate what caused the alarm, police spokeswoman Kimberly Schneider said. “There are no signs of smoke or fire,” Schneider said, according to ABC News.
Employees returned to the building soon after alarms sounded, although tourists were not immediately let back in.
Capitol Police and @dcfireems have cleared the CVC for reentry. The building is now open for reentry, and all road closures are now open.
— SenateSergeantAtArms (@SenateSAA) May 26, 2015
UPDATE: The #Capitol building has been cleared and is now open. The CVC remains closed until further notice. Updates to come.
— SenateSergeantAtArms (@SenateSAA) May 26, 2015
#Capitol and CVC evacuated for investigation of an audible alarm. Staff respond to assembly points.
— SenateSergeantAtArms (@SenateSAA) May 26, 2015
(h/t ABC-7)
