All Clear at U.S. Capitol After Evacuation Tuesday

The U.S. Capitol and the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center were evacuated Tuesday afternoon after a smoke alarm sounded at the Visitors Center, according to a U.S. Capitol spokeswoman.

The “triggering of alarms was most likely caused by smoke in the kitchen; there was no fire,” the U.S. Sergeant at Arms Office said.

The U.S. Capitol Police began evacuating the Capitol and Visitors Center around 12:30 p.m., according to the Capitol’s Watch Commander’s Office.

The visitors center was reopened at about 2:15 p.m.

Officials think the alarm was a smoke alarm at the Visitors Center.

“There are no signs of smoke or fire, but it is under investigation,” said Michelle Richardson, an administrative assistant in the Public Information Office, said earlier in the day.

The evacuation was for the Capitol building itself and not for outlying House and Senate office buildings.