A tweet posted by the Secret Service’s account said personnel are assisting officials in getting first aid to a man who lit himself on fire near the White House. | Al Drago-Pool/Getty Images White House Man lights himself on fire near the White House

A man lit himself on fire Wednesday afternoon near the White House, according to the Secret Service.

The incident took place about 12:20 p.m. on the Ellipse in downtown Washington — sometimes referred to as part of the “President’s Park” — near 15th Street NW and Constitution Avenue.


Secret Service spokesman Jeffrey Adams said the agency’s officers “responded in seconds“ to extinguish the fire and provide first aid to the man. Officials from the the National Park Service and the U.S. Park Police also responded to the scene.

The man was being transported to the hospital, Adams said. No other information about his condition was immediately provided.

The park is located south of the White House and north of the National Mall. Alina Berzins, 17, was sight-seeing in the area and captured a video of the incident, which her dad posted to Twitter.

Berzins told CNBC the man started running and collapsed once he was “covered in flames.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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