WASHINGTON — A hoax 911 call that the White House was on fire sent emergency vehicles to the complex Monday morning, while President Joe Biden and his family were at Camp David.
Fire trucks and other emergency vehicles responded just after 7 a.m. to a report that the White House was on fire and a person was trapped inside, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person was not authorized to discuss the hoax 911 call and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Within minutes, District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services and U.S. Secret Service personnel determined it was a false report and halted the response.
A person reached at the callback number for the 911 report indicated he had not posted it, the person said, indicating it was likely spoofed.
Biden will return to the White House on Monday afternoon after spending part of the weekend at the presidential retreat in Maryland and participating in a service event in Philadelphia celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day.