Metro Briefs

DISTRICT

Attic catches fire in senator’s building

A Capitol Hill house where Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois rents an apartment caught fire yesterday, but a spokesman said the Democratic presidential contender was out of town to celebrate Father's Day.

The fire appeared to be on the third floor of a town house at Sixth Street and Massachusetts Avenue Northeast, and likely was caused by a faulty ceiling fan, said Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs. Mr. Obama rents an apartment on the second floor.

Mr. Obama was with his family in Chicago yesterday, Mr. Gibbs said.

Fire department spokesman Alan Etter said the fire began in the attic, and that investigators are looking at “an old fan” as the cause.

“It appears to have been a relatively minor fire,” Mr. Etter said.

MARYLAND

FORT WASHINGTON

Naked runner hit, killed on highway

A naked pedestrian was killed Saturday night on Indian Head Highway, police said.

Cpl. Stephen Pacheco said the man was running naked along the road when he was struck by a sport utility vehicle.

The man has not been identified.

Cpl. Diane Richardson, a police spokeswoman, said police are investigating whether the victim was under the influence of drugs. An autopsy will be performed.

The driver of the SUV stopped at the scene.

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