A man in a motorised wheelchair set fire to his jacket outside the White House prompting a quick response from the US Secret Service, it was reported.
Officers rushed to the scene of Friday’s incident, which occurred on Pennsylvania Avenue at a spot popular with tourists, the Washington Post newspaper said.
President Donald Trump was in the White House at the time of the incident, according to a public press schedule.
The person involved, whose age and motive were immediately unclear, was taken to hospital after being treated by paramedics. Their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
The Secret Service told the Post that officers gave the man medical assistance and that firefighters were called to the scene before 3pm local time.