Man sets himself on fire before stunned onlookers outside White House

A man set himself on fire Wednesday afternoon outside the White House.

The Secret Service confirmed a man lit himself ablaze about 12:20 p.m. on the Ellipse near 15th Street and Constitution Avenue.

Secret Service personnel assisted the National Park Service and National Park police to assist the man, whose name has not been released, within seconds of lighting himself on fire.

The man was taken to an area hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.