A fire in a below-ground area connected to the National Museum of American History forced the building’s evacuation and closure Th...

A fire in a below-ground area connected to the National Museum of American History forced the building’s evacuation and closure Thursday morning, according to D.C. Fire and EMS. Fire crews were called to the 1300 block of Constitution Avenue NW around 11 a.m. for a box alarm after a bank of batteries caught fire in a below-grade space near the museum. Officials said the batteries were not lithium ion. The power was cut, and firefighters were able to quickly put out the flames. The museum was closed for the day following the fire, but as of Thursday afternoonn, officials say they will reopen Friday. "The museum will be closed today, Thursday, August 14, due to a small mechanical room fire that was quickly extinguished," the American History Museum posted on X. "There were no injuries, and neither artifacts nor exhibitions were affected. We look forward to welcoming visitors tomorrow." https://lnkd.in/gZtyJed7