USDA center in Md. closes after blaze

The U.S. Agriculture Department's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service center in Riverdale will be closed Tuesday because of a small electrical fire at the site over the weekend. Damage to the building, at 4700 River Rd., was not significant, USDA said.

"Those employees able to work from home are authorized to do so," read a statement on the office's Web site. "Those who are not equipped to telework are authorized administrative leave for the day."

Officials plan to assess damage to the building's telecommunications equipment and finish cleaning the damage. There was no word on when the office will open.

The USDA blaze is the second Washington-area federal building damaged by fire in less than a week. Commerce Department employees assigned to its headquarters in downtown Washington took administrative leave or teleworked Friday because a fire damaged the building's third floor.