Smoke forces White House evacuation
AP May 11, 201311:39PM
District of Columbia Fire department trucks and personnel respond to a call at the White House, where the West Wing including the media area were evacuated because of smoke. Source: AP
REPORTERS and photographers were evacuated briefly from the West Wing of the White House because of smoke from an overheated transformer.
US President Barack Obama and his family were not affected by the incident, according to the White House.
US Secret Service spokesman Max Milien said that at about 7am (9pm AEST), smoke was seen coming from a mechanical room closet on the first floor.
Journalists and others were evacuated out of "an abundance of caution" and the District of Columbia fire department was called, he said.
People were allowed back into the building about an hour later.
"Early this am, an electrical transformer near the West Wing malfunctioned and set off a smoke alarm in the West Wing. The transformer problem was quickly resolved.
"Electricity and personnel access to the West Wing has returned to normal. The first family was unaffected," the official said.
The West Wing houses the Oval Office and the offices of President Barack Obama's key staff. The president and his family live in the porticoed residence that stands between the East and West Wings.
No injuries were reported.
