An arsonist on Friday set fire to the door of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders' Burlington office, according to police.
Sanders, an independent senator, was not at his office during the fire, which reportedly caused minor damages but no injuries to staff members who were briefly trapped inside.
"A significant fire engulfed the door and part of the vestibule, impeding the egress of staff members who were working in the office and endangering their lives," the Burlington Police Department said in a statement. "The sprinkler system then engaged and largely extinguished the fire."
Police are searching for a male suspect who they say "sprayed an apparent accelerant" on the office door before lighting the accelerant and fleeing. No motive has been established.
Newsweek reached out to Sanders via email on Friday for comment.
According to the Associated Press (AP), the Burlington Fire Department responded to a call Friday morning and "found a fire between the vestibule, the elevator and the entrance door of Sanders' third-floor office in Burlington."
"The office door suffered moderate fire damage and much of the third floor sustained significant water damage. The offices of Sanders and those nearby were evacuated," the AP said.