Construction fire at State Department injures four

A flash fire during construction repairs on the ductwork of the State Department building in Foggy Bottom injured four people on Saturday, according to the D.C. Fire Department.

Three people were sent to the Washington Hospital Center, one of whom was in a "life-threatening condition," according to a report from CNN. A fourth person hurt his knee after falling from a ladder.

The fire began shortly after 11 a.m., and was extinguished shortly thereafter. According to the local ABC News affiliate, the amount of damage to the State Department building is not yet known.

Fire investigators have not yet determined what caused the flames, but do not believe it to be suspicious. According to NBC News, crews were performing maintenance on the eighth floor of the building . The eighth floor is home to the State Department's Diplomatic Reception Rooms, where visiting heads of state are officially entertained. 

Because the fire occurred on the weekend, only a skeleton staff of federal workers was in the building at the time of the fire.

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