latimes.com

A fire erupted at the State Department headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, seriously injuring three maintenance workers.

The fire ignited about 11 a.m. in ductwork on the building’s seventh floor, the Associated Press reported.

Employees put out the flames before firefighters arrived at the scene.

Three maintenance workers were hospitalized. One of them, according to the AP, was listed in critical condition. The other two were reported in serious condition.

The fire started during routine maintenance work in a mechanical area of the building, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told the AP. Workers temporarily evacuated the building but returned later in the day.

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