Fire Scatters Treasury Staff; Headquarters Closed Till Next Week

The Treasury Department's 160-year-old headquarters, extensively damaged Wednesday by a two-alarm fire, will remain closed until next week.

The fire broke out around 4:30 p.m. and blazed for four hours, forcing the evacuation of about 1,200 workers and injuring 11 firefighters.

The historic Greek revival structure at 1500 Pennsylvania Ave., next to the White House, sustained water and fire damage. The cause of the fire was unknown Thursday, as was the cost of the damage. Paints and glues used in repairing the roof apparently fueled the blaze, fire officials said.

Most Treasury workers got the day off Thursday. Richard S. Carnell, assistant secretary for financial institutions, was among those relocated to the headquarters of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

"The activities in the main Treasury building focus on policy, not operations, so that the fire should not significantly affect the activities the financial community depends on," Mr. Carnell said.

Mr. Carnell said he was in his office when the fire alarms went off. He and his staff left the building, not certain whether it was a fire drill or the real thing. He said he remained at the scene until 7:30 p.m.

There's something "ugly and menacing" about watching a building burn, Mr. Carnell said.