Flames from underground electrical fire force evacuation of DC hotels near White House

Downtown DC hotels evacuated for electrical fire

WASHINGTON — Flames from an underground electrical transformer have forced the evacuation of hotels in downtown Washington near the White House. No injuries have been reported.

D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services spokesman Pete Piringer says the fire began about 7:45 p.m. Saturday.

The flames were shooting into the air and up against the W and Willard hotels on the 1400 block of F Street NW. That’s about a block east of the White House.

Piringer says the hotels have been evacuated and about 75 firefighters were on the scene.

Utility workers were trying to shut down the power to the affected area. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

A similar fire broke out Thursday in another part of the city.

Eds: APNewsNow. Corrects spelling of Willard Hotel. Will be updated with developments.