Fire
This article originally appeared in Exchange,
a newsletter published by the Wisconsin Historical
Society. (Volume
25, Number 2, March/April 1983) It is the ninth in
a series of articles titled Conservation Corner.
The series features information about maintaining
an adequate environment for the storage and exhibition
of historical collections, employing proper collection
care techniques, and recording and cataloging historical
collections. This article was written by Tom McKay,
retired local history coordinator for the Wisconsin
Historical Society.
Most enemies of historic collections — dirt, light, temperature
and humidity fluctuation — cause damage at a steady
but nearly imperceptible pace. As emphasized in previous
columns, museums must exercise constant vigilance against
these agents of deterioration. Another sudden and devastating
enemy of historic collections demands equal vigilance: fire.
The first thing to remember about fire is that it can happen to anyone.
Institutions as large as the Henry Ford Museum and the National Archives
have learned this firsthand. Great advances have been made in recent
years in the development of fire-retardant materials and fire detection
systems. The local historical society should take every opportunity
to learn about these technological advances. However, the first line
of defense against fire remains unwavering adherence to procedures
that will help prevent fires from starting.
A fire needs both a cause and a place to start. Some museums and historical societies offer inviting places for fires to start. Stacks of loose papers, open or empty cardboard boxes, and piles of packing materials are far too common in history museums. Place loose papers in proper files or archival boxes; eliminate ordinary cardboard boxes by building storage cabinets and shelving; store packing materials neatly in closets or cabinets. A museum must exercise careful control over flammable liquids. Such material should be kept on the museum premises only when absolutely essential to ongoing work and only in small quantities. Flammable liquids must be restricted to the workshop or lab and must be stored in closed metal cabinets. Rags used with flammable liquids should be discarded in garbage cans outside the building immediately after use. The cause of a fire can be as unpredictable as a lightning strike. Don't provide a fire an ideal place to start.
Unpredictable as the causes of fire may be, proper procedures can offer protection against common causes. Every museum should strictly enforce smoking regulations. Ideally there should be no smoking anywhere in the museum. The entrance to the building should have receptacles for the disposal of cigarettes and other smoking materials. Many local societies have a kitchen or a place to make coffee. The museum should prominently post a set of clean-up procedures. Such a list should begin with turning off and unplugging all electrical appliances.
Electrical fires are common and often preventable with common sense. Use extension cords in as few places as possible, never overload them, and throw away frayed or worn cords immediately. Historical societies in historic buildings usually inherit poor wiring. In such cases, upgraded wiring should be a high priority. Where the expense of rewiring prohibits immediate upgrading for the entire building, one interim safeguard is to run new wiring in conduit to essential circuits. These might include the furnace, night lights, and a security system. Next install a separate control box for these circuits. All other circuits run through a second box and can be shut off by a main switch to this box. When leaving the building, turn off the electricity running through the older circuits. The chance of an electrical fire when the building is unoccupied will be greatly reduced.
If a fire does start in a museum, prompt and correct response is critical. Every museum should have a written fire plan that volunteers and staff understand. A fire plan for your museum will be unique to the specific layout of your building. Ask the local fire department to visit your museum and make suggestions about a fire plan.
In the event of a fire, first direct people in the building to evacuate. Next, call the fire department. The correct number should be posted at every telephone, even if the number is simply 911. Be sure that the fire department has been called, then decide whether to attempt to extinguish the fire. Most museums use the type ABC dry chemical extinguishers. The locations of fire extinguishers should be included in the fire plan and memorized by everyone who works in the building. However, never risk human life attempting to extinguish a fire. When the fire department arrives, let them fight the fire and determine whether it is safe to enter the building to remove objects.
Even a fire brought quickly under control can be a catastrophe because
of water damage. Again, prompt and appropriate response
must be made. The building should be secured so that
all doors close and lock and any broken windows are
covered. If the building cannot be secured, it may
be necessary to remove undamaged collections. All water-soaked
items must be handled with extreme caution because
they may not be able to support their own weight. Paper
items should be placed in a freezer to await treatment
and drying. (See Procedures for Salvage of Water-Damaged
Library Materials, by Peter Waters, available through
your local library on interlibrary loan.) Thoroughly
inspect all sections of the museum for water-damaged
items; turn down heat to low levels; and circulate
air with fans. Many water-damaged items will require
specialized treatment. For advice in locating specialized
assistance, call the Office of Local History at the
Wisconsin Historical Society as soon as possible 608-264-6579
or 608-264-6400.
Fire can devastate a historical society. Assess your organization to develop safe procedures and a written fire plan. Adhere strictly to your fire safety procedures. Fire safety goes beyond conserving historic collections. It guards against a tragedy.
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