Man Sets Himself on Fire on the National Mall

Sarah Jean Seman | October 04, 2013 5:46 PM

UPDATE V: The man has reportedly passed away. He has not yet been identified.

UPDATE IV:

DC Police tell me that the man who was on fire on the National Mall is conscious and breathing. Call came in at 4:24 PM.
— Chris Moody (@Chris_Moody) October 4, 2013

UPDATE III: Video shows helicopter leaving the scene:

UPDATE II:

Alert:7th St btwn Madison Dr NW & Jefferson Dr SW is CLOSED due to an injured citizen. Use Alt Rte. See Attached/7066 pic.twitter.com/Vrgl4RaWPH
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) October 4, 2013

UPDATE I: Joggers attempted to put out the flames with their t-shirts:

Katy Scheflen says she was walking along the Mall when she saw a man by himself pick up a can of gasoline and empty its contents on his head before setting himself ablaze.

A man doused himself with gasoline and lit his body on fire Friday around 4:25 p.m. on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

According to an Associated Press report:

A fire official says a man has been flown to the hospital after setting himself on fire on the National Mall.

Fire crews responded Friday afternoon to a report of a man on fire at 7th and Madison streets. A witness says she saw a man dump a red canister of gasoline on his head and then set himself on fire.

D.C. Fire Department spokesman Tim Wilson says the man has life-threatening injuries.

His name and age weren't immediately known.