Black smoke was seen Friday billowing from the chimney of the Russian consulate in San Francisco on the eve of its ordered closure by the Trump administration.
Firefighters from the San Francisco Fire Department arrived on the scene to investigate reports of smoke coming from the roof of the building but were turned away by consulate officials who said they were burning unidentified items in a fireplace, according to the Associated Press.
Black smoke billows from roof of #Russian consulate a day before occupants are to vacate. #sffd responds to reports of fire. pic.twitter.com/FEllrdS0xW
— Justin Sullivan (@sullyfoto) September 1, 2017
The consulate is Russia’s oldest in the U.S. and was ordered by the Trump administration to be shut down in retaliation against Russia’s recent expulsion of U.S. diplomats from Moscow.
On Friday, Russian state media reported that the Russian foreign ministry has said U.S. security services intend to conduct searches in the San Francisco consulate on Sept. 2.
Interesting. RT is reporting that US security services are to search Russian consulate in S.F. tomorrow: https://t.co/HooXzPAAyn https://t.co/pb4bnaozOR
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 1, 2017
