Fire Damages Fort Meade Intelligence Building

Peterson noted that "there was minor construction going on in the area" but he made no connection between the construction and the blaze.

The barrackslike building, which is near a movie theater and chapel, dates to the World War II era, Lane said.

Anne Arundel firefighters, called immediately to help the post fire department, sent the amount of equipment and personnel that would be used to battle a four-alarm fire.

"We originally sent three engines and a truck, and it escalated from that," said Lt. Russ Davies, a spokesman for the Anne Arundel Fire Department. Before the blaze was under control, firefighters from Prince George's and Howard counties joined in the effort.

Firefighters in a ladder truck directed streams of water onto the blaze, which could be seen on an Army video.

Fort Meade is home to more than 30,000 workers.

The fire did not affect the National Security Agency, whose headquarters is also at the post.

As described on its Web site, the 902nd group conducts counterintelligence activities in support of Army commanders and protects Army forces, secrets and technology by detecting, identifying, neutralizing and exploiting foreign intelligence services and international terrorist threats

A number of military intelligence units are based at the post.

Staff writers Walter Pincus, Sandhya Somashekhar and Martin Weil contributed to this report.