The White House went on lockdown Saturday morning just as President Barack Obama and his family were scheduled to take off by helicopter.
A loud noise on the South Lawn prompted the press to move back into the briefing room and lock the doors, according to a pool report tweeted out by White House correspondent Tommy Christopher.
Pool report: loud noise heard at White House, Secret Service locks down press in briefing room. pic.twitter.com/E3GUnkj7VI
— Tommy Christopher (@tommyxtopher) March 7, 2015
USA Today reports that a sniffer dog alerted officials to a vehicle fire in the 1600 block of Constitution Avenue and the lockdown took effect around 10 a.m. ET. A press pool was sent out at 11 a.m. and said the lockdown was ongoing and the issue appears to be smoke coming from a vendor or vehicle.
RT @AusNewsNetwork: White House reportedly in lockdown, following a reported vehicle fire and explosion nearby. pic.twitter.com/qaVUUe5gh0
— Johann de Graaf (@JCdeGraaf) March 7, 2015
Van explosion, according to @runpacers “@will_sweet1: So this fire just broke out right outside the White House…. pic.twitter.com/0oWqvwbWDu”
— Philip Crowther (@PhilipinDC) March 7, 2015
