Fire near Natural History Museum

A fire in an outbuilding of the National Museum of Natural History complex sent a thick plume of gray smoke onto Washington's skyline Monday morning, disrupting rush-hour traffic along the National Mall.

The fire was in a building in the museum complex that contains heating and air conditioning equipment. No one was injured, and the museum exhibits did not appear to be in any danger.

The fire was reported about 7:40 a.m., D.C. deputy fire chief Kenneth Crosswhite said. Nearly a dozen fire trucks and other emergency vehicles converged on the museum, at 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. The fire was mostly extinguished by 8 a.m., and the equipment began to leave the scene about 8:40 a.m.

While the fire was being fought, the 9th Street Tunnel was closed at Constitution Avenue, along with Madison Drive and 12th Street, southbound 7th Street and eastbound Constitution between 8th and 10th streets.

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