Man Sets Himself On Fire On National Mall, Near White House

Yesterday it was a shooting at a runaway mom driver that shut down the Capitol area for hours. Today, while there have been no shootings in D.C., moments ago we just got news of a self-immolation in the middle of the National Mall, where a man allegedly doused himself in gasoline and set himself on fire, suffering life-threatening injuries according to the DC Fire Department.

NBC Washington [5]reports that "Passersby on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., ripped off their shirts to help extinguish the flames after a man apparently tried to set himself on fire Friday, witnesses and authorities said. The man was conscious and breathing when he was flown by helicopter to Washington Medical Center, D.C. police said. There was no immediate report on his condition. The incident, which was reported at 4:24 p.m. ET, occurred on Seventh Street Southwest near the National Air and Space Museum, U.S. Park Police said. Witnesses told several media organizations, including NBC Washington, that they saw the man pour gasoline on himself from a red canister and then set himself ablaze. Police said they couldn't confirm those reports. Nearby joggers stopped and ripped off their shirts to smother the flames, NBC Washington reported."

The burned man was promptly carried off the Mall using a helicopter.

Politico adds [6]:

A fire official says a man has been flown to the hospital after setting himself on fire on the National Mall.

Fire crews responded Friday afternoon to a report of a man on fire at 7th and Madison streets. A witness says she saw a man dump a red canister of gasoline on his head and then set himself on fire.

D.C. Fire Department spokesman Tim Wilson says the man has life-threatening injuries.

His name and age weren't immediately known.

Sky News confirms:

Man Sets Himself On Fire Near To White House http://t.co/jZiL7fW785 [7]

— Sky News (@SkyNews) October 4, 2013 [8]

Picture from the National Mall. Helicopter lifting off, efforting more details. pic.twitter.com/hv6pD20swp [9]

— Brian Sasser (@ProducerSass) October 4, 2013 [10]

Eyewitness twitter user Hellie Hess reported that "someone just lit himself on fire in the middle of the National Mall "

Holy shit, someone just lit himself on fire in the middle of the National Mall pic.twitter.com/qzGgl9OuUo [11]

— Ellie Hess (@Smellie03) October 4, 2013 [12]

Other did too

Just witnessed the craziest thing ever... a man set himself on fire and danced down the Mall. #horrifying [13]

— Vanessa Sink (@LiveMusicGirl) October 4, 2013 [14]

BREAKING : U.S. Park Police helicopter is flying out "an individual that attempted to set self on fire at the Mall."

— Myles N. Miller (@myles_nm) October 4, 2013 [15]

The man apparently burned himself as an act of protest.

— Myles N. Miller (@myles_nm) October 4, 2013 [16]

This happened at 7th St SW & Jefferson Dr, right near the Hirschorn Museum + National Air and Space Museum.

— Myles N. Miller (@myles_nm) October 4, 2013 [17]

The man who set himself on fire, was taken to @medstarwhc [18].

— Myles N. Miller (@myles_nm) October 4, 2013 [19]

JUST IN: Man found on fire on the National Mall, D.C. Police Dept. says; male found 'conscious & breathing'

— NBC Nightly News (@nbcnightlynews) October 4, 2013 [20]

@brianstelter [21] They are transporting him by helicopter from the Mall now.

— Vanessa Sink (@LiveMusicGirl) October 4, 2013 [22]