PRESS-RELEASE Humanitarian tragedy: Fire exterminated one of the Kamianets-Podilsky Archives' Warehouses

April 10: Warning!

On April 10, 2003, at 12:30 PM, a fire broke out in Warehouse ¹ 1 of the Kamianets-Podilsky Archives. Five of the most valuable fonds (record collections) were ablaze: f.226, Podolia State Chamber (Kazennaia Palata) (1796-1919), f.228, Office of Governor of Podolia (1795-1917), f. 112, Office for peasant affairs of Podolia Gubernia (1861-1919), f. 678, Kamianets city office (1875-1920), f. 249, Office of Military Governor (1795-1845). These historical fonds (about 100,000 files) cover the history of Podolia Gubernia from the end of the XVIII century through the beginning of the XX century.

So far, about 2 tons of archival material were evacuated from the destroyed warehouse. More than 1,200 items (wet but not ablaze) are being dried in three special rooms for drying. In a few days, these records hopefully will be in a good condition. About 10, 000 other items were transferred into a refrigerator and frozen at -30C. These should be restored after the drying rooms are empty from the first group of records.

In addition to those documents that were completely destroyed, many unique historical documents were water-damaged.

Excavations inside the destroyed building are on-going.

The Chairman of the State Archives Committee, Dr. Hennadii Boriak, immediately went from Kyiv to Kamianets Podilsky to survey the damage, take photographs and to formulate a plan for the rescue and recovery of documents. Since the fire, hundreds of people - local archivists together with cadets, policeman, fireman and other municipal personnel, students, ordinary people have been working around the clock to save whatever is possible.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Dear Colleagues,
Let your archives be preserved carefully and safely!
God bless your archives!

Press-service of the State Committee
Tel. (044)2774522
E-mail: kp-fire@archives.gov.ua

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