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A food cart-related incident put a delay on President Obama's travel plans this morning. "A security lockdown at the White House triggered by a loud bang just as President Barack Obama was due to leave was caused by a food vendor cart catching fire on a nearby street," says Reuters.
Photos posted to social media show a heavy cloud of smoke in the area, where it appears several food trucks and vendors were parked.
So this fire just broke out right outside the White House.... pic.twitter.com/jxMdPIgmRI
— Will Sweet (@will_sweet1) March 7, 2015
As The Washington Times points out, "It’s common to see vendors, carts and trailers around the White House . . . Stands selling ice cream and bottled water can often be found on the sidewalks around the D.C. landmark."
At the same time, Secret Service agents were using a bomb-sniffing dog to investigate a car in the area, but The New York Times says "it did not appear the two incidents were related." The Obamas were headed to Selma, Alabama for a civil rights march anniversary event; the lockdown only lasted about an hour before POTUS and his family were permitted to leave by motorcade.
