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)

12 481 unsupportable assumptions made by some witnesses, until now uncorrected. The fire department report concluded that the fire started in Vault 6 or 8, most likely 8, because fire damage was most severe in these vaults. However, their report states that the fire was in an open vault on the northeast side, which would have to be Vault 10 to 14, where work was taking place. This location of the origin of the fire is also supported by witnesses across the street. The fire department report also states that sprinklers were operating; this would minimize fire damage and prevent spalling of concrete. Our calculations indicate that the sprinklers would minimize fire damage (without necessarily extinguishing the fire) in six vaults. When the fire extended to more than six vaults, additional sprinklers opening would deplete water supplies to the point where sprinklers would no longer spray and control damage. Severe fire damage in Vaults 6 and 8 indicate that when they were ignited, more than six vaults were already on fire. This basic error in the location of the origin of the fire led to the assumption by the fire department and others that the cause of the fire was spontaneous ignition. The idea that the air-conditioning system was malfunctioning to the point of heating a film vault(s) above the ignition temperature of nitrate film was advanced and received serious consideration. Those witnesses asked about on it had no idea of how an air-conditioning system works. The Suitland