I jreceived this from another list on Rootsweb. Has anyone heard anything regarding such a sad happening? >Resent-Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 14:10:35 -0800 (PST) >From: Duroblan@aol.com >Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 17:09:49 EST >Subject: National Archives Fire >Old-To: LAUNION-L@rootsweb.com >X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 41 >To: LAUNION-L@rootsweb.com >Resent-From: LAUNION-L@rootsweb.com >X-Mailing-List: <LAUNION-L@rootsweb.com> archive/latest/1129 >X-Loop: LAUNION-L@rootsweb.com >Resent-Sender: LAUNION-L-request@rootsweb.com > > >I got this from another list on Rootsweb has anyone heard anything about this. > >> http://www.usnewswire.com/topnews/Current_Releases/0301-131.html >> >> National Archives Statement on Records Center Fire >> U.S. Newswire >> 1 Mar 15:39 >> >> National Archives and Records Administration Statement on Records >> Center Fire >> To: National Desk >> Contact: National Archives Public Affairs, 301-713-6000 >> >> WASHINGTON, March 1, /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following is a >> statement from John W. Carlin, archivist of the United States, >> on the Feb. 29 Records Center Fire: >> >> Yesterday (Tuesday, Feb. 29), the National Archives and Records >> Administration (NARA) reported a fire in its Washington National >> Records Center in Suitland, Md. The fire was contained by the >> Center's fire-safety system and extinguished with no reports of >> harm to staff or visitors, but some records were damaged. The >> following is an update on that from Archivist of the United States >> John Carlin. >> >> Although much work will be needed before we can be certain, we >> believe that of the total of more than 3.7 million cubic feet of >> records at Suitland, approximately 3,000 cubic feet were in the >> immediate area. Of those, fewer than 300 cubic feet may have been >> destroyed. Most of the affected records were wet or damp from >> sprinkler water or in singed boxes. Our staff at Suitland stayed >> up through last night making valiant efforts to protect records >> from water damage and otherwise dealing with the fire's effects, >> working with personnel from the General Services Administration, >> from which we lease the facility. >> >> The cause of the fire is as yet undetermined. Because the >> property is Federal, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, >> and Firearms as well as GSA fire investigators were notified. As >> the investigation continues, the following is what we know about >> the fire so far. >> >> The sprinkler alarms were activated at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, and >> alerted the GSA Control Center that there was a problem. The first >> fire company arrived sometime between 2:45 and 2:50. A fireman on >> the scene was overcome with smoke at which point firemen abandoned >> Stack 15 to open the roof hatches to vent the smoke. This process >> apparently took approximately one hour to accomplish before the >> firemen returned to Stack 15 to begin to extinguish the fire. The >> sprinkler system contained the fire during the period between >> 2:30 and 3:50 at which point the firemen were able to enter the >> stack. At 8:13 p.m. the firemen on the scene felt that the fire was >> sufficiently extinguished to allow the investigation to begin in >> the stack. >> >> Our tracking system enabled us to identify the records on the >> shelves affected by the fire, and agencies whose records may have >> been affected have been notified. But we won't be able to identify >> exactly which records have been affected and how seriously until >> the investigation of the area is completed and we can examine the >> materials more closely. >> >> I will provide further information as it becomes available. >> >> ------ >> For further information, contact the National Archives public >> affairs staff at 301-713-6000. >> >> -0- >> /U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/ >> 03/01 15:39 >> >> Copyright 2000, U.S. Newswire > >