Man Outside White House Sets Jacket On Fire

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A man set his jacket on fire outside the White House Friday afternoon, causing a Secret Service response that closed off Pennsylvania Avenue to pedestrians, officials said.

The Secret Service said the man was in an electronic wheelchair-type scooter and he lit his outer jacket on fire while sitting along Pennsylvania Avenue. Officers responded to the scene, extinguished the fire and rendered first aid.

The incident happened at around 3:15 p.m. The man was taken to the hospital with apparent non-life threatening injuries.

Secret Service officers were seen attending to an individual on a stretcher before it was wheeled away. Video also showed multiple vehicles with flashing lights arriving on Pennsylvania Avenue.
President Donald Trump was at the White House at the time.

Authorities also closed 17th Street between H and G to vehicular traffic. The investigation is ongoing.

Reporting and writing from The Associated Press was used in this report.