National Archives and Records Service film-vault fire at Suitland, Md. : hearings before a subcommittee of the Committee on Government Operations, House of Representatives, Ninety-sixth Congress, first session, June 19 and 21, 1979 (1979)

24 high hazard storage after 30 years, or for the sprinkler system not being installed as it was originally intended — a deluge system, or for not detecting that the sprinkler system had been in an altered condition for three months, or for apparently never testing the flow switch after it had been installed, or for not installing doors that could reasonably be expected to retard the spread of a fire, or for not training building personnel in the proper actions in a fire, or for taking a piecemeal approach to repairing the vital air conditioning system. There seems to have been a general shrug of bureaucratic shoulders about this building being in the midst of a populated area. [Photos shown.] Mr. EsTEPP. You will notice from these aerial photographs that there are several apartment projects, commercial areas, a well-traveled highway, and a nursing home adjacent to those three film bunkers. Even more than that, I view attempts to "scapegoat" any blame away from GSA as an attempt to cover their own ineptness, which was demonstrated by the condition of the building before the fire, and was emphasized by some of their actions immediately after the fire. The film that was not burned in the fire was removed to a refrigerated trailer parked in the middle of the Suitland Federal Center. The trailer was not secured ; in fact, a television reporter was able to go up to the trailer and open the door unchallenged. The refrigeration broke down some time later, and the operators attempted to remove the trailer, including its cargo, by truck in order to drive it to a shop to get the refrigeration fixed. Before that, they even requested the fire department to bring a pumper to the site in order to hose the truck down with water to reduce the inside temperature. The Prince Georges County Fire Department accepts its responsibility to provide fire protection to the Suitland Federal Center and other Federal facilities in our county. In fact, discharging that responsibility almost cost the lives of several firefighters last December. But this fire points out that, while we have the responsibility to provide fire protection, we do not have the authority to enforce any local fire codes on Federal sites, nor do we have any real control over the condition or contents of any buildings. We look to the Federal Government to carry out its responsibility. We hope we do not have to wait imtil a firefighter's funeral is the proof that they are falling far short of it. Thank you. I certainly would be glad to answer any questions that you may have, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Preyer. Thank you very much, Mr. Estepp. Anybody who tries to make you a scapegoat has a formidable adversary on his hands. That is very impressive testimony. You make a statement that the whole facility should be removed at once. That sounds a little bit like Congressman Ottinger's description of these vaults as being "bombs," wliich is the way I think he put it. This raises the question of whether you got to the fire in 15 minutes, or wliether it took you 5 minutes to get there, would it have made any difference. Mr. Estepp. That is a good point. I think if the sprinkler system had been working properly, there is a possibility that there could have been