According to the Secret Service, a man set himself on fire this afternoon on the Ellipse in downtown Washington, not far from the White House.

A spokesman for the Washington Fire Department told CNBC,

“I can confirm that we’ve transported one patient with burns from the Ellipse and we’re now on the scene assisting law enforcement.”

The Secret Service had no comment other than referring to the agency’s tweet about the incident.

White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said he could not immediately comment. He said,

“Looking into it.”

This is a developing story…

At approximately 12:20 p.m. a man lit himself on fire on the Ellipse near 15th and Constitution Ave., Secret Service personnel are on scene assisting @NatlParkService and @usparkpolicepio in rendering first aid.

— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) May 29, 2019

(Photo, Wikimedia Commons; via CNBC)