The move by the US Park Police came after a man reportedly doused a car with gasoline and proceeded to set it on fire.
The man has since been detained.
Breaking: US park police detained a person who poured gasoline on a car and set it on fire at the survey lodge near the washington monument. No one was hurt. Washington monument operations were temporarily suspended during the investigation. pic.twitter.com/XhPtBSyzW1
— Spencer Allan Brooks (@SpencerSays) March 17, 2026
NBC 4 Washington broke the story:
Operations at the Washington Monument were suspended Tuesday morning after someone set a car on fire nearby, authorities say.
The person poured gasoline on a privately owned vehicle at Survey Lodge near the monument on the National Mall, U.S. Park Police said.
The suspect was detained. Their name and information on a motive were not immediately released.
The Washington Monument was expected to reopen quickly, police said.
Here’s the aftermath:
BREAKING: Washington Monument operations suspended after someone set car on fire pic.twitter.com/IXhGHE1Dj1
— The Triune Times (@TriuneTimes) March 17, 2026
Fox 5 DC reported the fire remains under investigation, and no one was injured:
The incident as reported around 9:10 a.m. near Survey Lodge. D.C. Fire and EMS responded and quickly extinguished the flames. No injuries or additional damage was reported.
Operations at the monument were temporarily suspended while police investigated.
