The Hart and Dirksen Senate Office Buildings have been cleared for re-entry after a small fire broke out early this afternoon in the basement of the Hart building.

Capitol Police and the District of Columbia Fire Department responded to the blaze, which took place in a stairwell, according to a police spokeswoman.

Both Hart and Dirksen were evacuated, and the fire was quickly extinguished. The cause for the fire was not immediately known.

— Elizabeth Brotherton