U.S. Senate office building burns again

Another small fire broke out early Friday in a U.S. Senate office building. It is the latest one in a series of similar suspicious fires in the buildings used by American lawmakers.

Photo: U.S. Senate office building burns again

Police spokesman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider said a small fire was discovered about 8:00 a.m. EDT in a 2nd floor woman's restroom of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. She said it was quickly extinguished and there were no evacuations or injuries.

Schneider said it was at least the 7th confirmed fire in the office buildings since late September. The fires are all suspicious in nature and Capitol Police - who are responsible for securing the U.S. Congress and its affiliated buildings - are exploring the possibility that they are linked, she said.

Capitol Police sent out a mass e-mail in early October noting "a series of small fires that have occurred in the Senate Office Buildings in recent days," and asking for tips. The e-mail said that more building patrols have been added to investigate.