Urgent Information; Please Broadcast as Soon as Possible

Main Interior Building Reopens for Business

The Department of the Interior's main office building in Washington, D.C., will reopen Tuesday morning (April 20) for normal operations. All employees scheduled to work at the building should report to their offices at the usual time.

The Main Interior Building, located at 1849 C Street, NW, was closed yesterday afternoon around 1:45 p.m. after a short circuit burned out a fan motor in an air circulation system on the mechanical floor.

The building was immediately evacuated while the problem was located and the air circulation system secured. Employees were allowed to return to their offices about 2:30 p.m. to collect personal belongings and were dismissed for the day as work commenced to replace the fan motor and restart the building's air circulation system.

The fan handles about one-twelfth of the building's air circulation system. All floors of the building have been evaluated and it is safe to occupy the facility.

For updated information, Interior employees are advised to check the DOI website, www.doi.gov, for the DOI DC Operating Status or call the emergency information phone number at 202-208-6606.