Fire Engulfs Algerian EmbassyFire engulfed Thursday the Algerian embassy in Washington DC and spread briefly to the roof of a nearby hotel.The blaze destroyed the embassy's top floor and sent about a dozen people fleeing to safety, but fire officials had no reports of injuries. More than 100 firefighters and emergency medical workers responded to an early-afternoon report of flames from a passer-by, and the flames were extinguished in 40 minutes. By then, the entire top floor of the Tudor-style building had collapsed, and the rest of the building was severely damaged, District of Columbia Fire Department spokesman Alan Etter said. The cause of the fire was unknown. Etter said there was no reason to suspect foul play. Tar on the roof of the next-door Windsor Park Hotel caught fire but was put out quickly, Etter said. The hotel was not further damaged. Algerian Ambassador Idriss Jazairy, who is new to the post, was not inside at the time of the fire. He was distraught when he arrived and did not talk to reporters. Smoke could be seen for miles from the building in Washington's Kalorama neighborhood, which has several embassies in genteel mansions. |
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