AFP
Washington, Dec 20: Emergency vehicles raced to the White House on Wednesday as thick black smoke gushed from windows of the office building across from the West Wing that houses US President George W. Bush's office.
Firefighters could be seen tossing chairs onto the balcony, apparently clearing the second-floor room affected by the blaze, whose origins were unclear.
The fire appeared to be burning in the vicinity of US Vice President Dick Cheney's ceremonial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, according to White House insiders.