Man Sets Himself On Fire Outside White House, Suffers Life-Threatening Injuries

A man wearing a shirt emblazoned with the letters USA set himself afire and calmly ran away as if nothing were happening in a bizarre incident not far from the White House shortly after lunch on Wednesday. He was arrested by police.

Video taken of the frightening self-immolation shows the man engulfed in fiery red and orange flames from head-to-toe walking on as he was ablaze. Officers are later seen rushing towards the man, including one with a fire extinguisher. The man then collapsed and was doused with fire fighting foam.

This unidentified man, who is now in hospital being treated for his injuries, torched himself in front of sightseers at the Ellipse, the 52-acre park area that lies south of the White House and north of the National Mall, in the heart of Washington.

The incident occurred just north of the Washington Monument. Media reports say the man’s injuries are life-threatening. The man’s burn injuries cover some 85% of his body.

“At approximately 12:20 p.m. a man lit himself on fire on the Ellipse near 15th and Constitution Ave., Secret Service personnel are on scene assisting @NatlParkService and @usparkpolicepio in rendering first aid,” tweeted the Secret Service.

Secret Service spokesman Jeffrey Adams said the agency’s Uniformed Division Officers “responded in seconds” after the “male individual lit himself on fire.” Officers then began administering first aid to the man.

“The individual is being transported to a local hospital,” said Adams at the time.

The Washington Fire Department said it can confirm it has transported one patient with burns from the Ellipse “and we’re now on the scene assisting law enforcement.”

An eyewitness, Alina Berzins, 17, took a video of the incident and posted it on Twitter.

“He starts running, and then we saw him covered in flames.”

“According to my daughter​…she just saw a person that was on fire running across the White House lawn,” tweeted the father, Krisjan Berzins. “Police and rescue have responded. They’re closing all surrounding streets right now.”