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Alarm Prompts Evacuation of Capitol Power Plant

The Capitol Power Plant heats and cools the Capitol complex. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
The Capitol Power Plant heats and cools the Capitol complex. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The Capitol Power plant was evacuated Monday morning due to an audible alarm in the boiler room, though police said there was no fire.  

The Capitol Police command center informed CQ Roll Call that an alarm prompted the evacuation, though there was no fire in the room and everything appeared to be alright. The officer did not have more information and didn’t say what prompted the alarm. A spokesperson for the Architect of the Capitol wrote in an email that the evacuation was due to an alarm that went off, but did not immediately respond to an inquiry as to what set off the alarm.  

The power plant, located a few blocks south of the Capitol, is more than 100 years hold, and provides steam and chilled water to nearly two dozen facilities on Capitol Hill, including the Capitol and the House and Senate office buildings.  

Just after 10 a.m., the Senate Sergeant at Arms account tweeted that E Street from South Capitol to New Jersey Avenue were temporarily closed due to the evacuation. The streets reopened roughly 30 minutes later.  

 


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