News

Rep. Cummings’ Baltimore home catches fire

by Jesse Byrnes - 06/02/15 12:45 PM ET

The West Baltimore rowhouse of Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) caught fire Tuesday morning, according to multiple local media reports.

Firefighters saw smoke coming from the roof of the three-story brick building and put the fire under control within 20 minutes, a fire department spokesman told the Baltimore Sun.

{mosads}No one was home during the time of the incident and no injuries were reported, the spokesman told the newspaper, which said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

A Cummings spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment from The Hill.

Cummings said he was in a Transportation Committee hearing on Capitol Hill when he learned about the fire.

“The fire started on the third floor of the house and the Fire Department is investigating the cause,” he said in a statement.

“Thankfully, no one was home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries. I am grateful to all of those who have expressed their concern.”

The Democratic lawmaker often discussing his neighborhood in public appearances, and spent time in the city following the police-involved death of Freddie Gray, a black 25-year-old male, in April.