A column of black smoke was seen billowing from the Russian Consulate office in San Francisco Friday, a day after Trump administration ordered its closure, along with two other consular offices in the United States.

The smoke sparked concerns and triggered a call about 11:41 a.m. to the San Francisco Police Department, said Mindy Talmadge, a department spokeswoman.

The caller didn’t know where the smoke was coming from, she said, so firefighters decided to investigate.

When firefighters arrived, Talmadge said, they determined the smoke was rising from a chimney inside the consular office in the 2700 block of Green Street.


Russia has until Saturday to close the office in San Francisco, the chancery annex in Washington and the consular annex in New York, the State Department announced.

Black smoke billows from roof of #Russian consulate a day before occupants are to vacate. #sffd responds to reports of fire. pic.twitter.com/FEllrdS0xW — Justin Sullivan (@sullyfoto) September 1, 2017

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

Twitter: VeronicaRochaLA


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