That EOB / Executive Office Building Fire: What's the Big Deal?

As it happened, the EOB / Executive Office Building (more officially, the EEOB, or Eisenhower Executive Building) fire this morning was a relatively minor event. I haven't heard how much damage was done, but only one person got hurt: and the Marine who made a hole in a fifth-floor window with his hands was treated and released.

I wrote quite a long post about the event, earlier this morning.

So, why would I spend so much time on a relatively minor event?

• It was an attention-grabbing event, and it grabbed my attention.
• This was a very good 'live-fire' exercise for some people in Washington.
  • The people in the EOB evacuated calmly and effectively. Yes, that includes the U.S. Marine. He was on the fifth floor, had a fire of unknown extent between him and the ground, and made use of the tools on hand - literally - to make an alternative exit. Getting everyone out of an office building with two miles of corridors smoothly and swiftly is no small feat.
  • Emergency responders did a good job, getting a dozen or so vehicles and their crews into a relatively cramped area in minutes.
• We got a good look at some aspects of how news coverage works.
  • Reporters don't always get it right. Secret Service Agents Keeping Firefighters Out of Burning Building was the gist of the early report. A reality check (by the same reporter) indicated that the agents were making sure that the firefighters really were firefighters - a sensible precaution.
  • News is what happens around reporters. This relatively minor fire got heavy coverage in no small part because it happened across the street from the White House, where reporters are as thick as mosquitoes in a Minnesota summer.

Now, the news:

• "Fire Controlled at White House Compound"
• "Fire Breaks Out at Eisenhower Executive Office Building Near White House"
• " Fire out at building next to White House"
"White House Office Building Catches Fire"