ANM Exhibits Center Damaged by Fire

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Summary

The Anacostia Neighborhood Museum's Exhibits Production Center located at 1901 Fort Place, S.E., is damaged by a fire which started when sheets of masonite fell from a forklift striking a partially filled drum of lacquer thinner. Sparks were probably created when the drum struck the concrete floor, and intense heat spread the contents of this container to a second one, which contained varsol, and caused it to burst. The building's smoke detection device sent out the alarm, but the fire damaged telephone lines, and staff were unable to call for help. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the estimated damage (mostly structural) was about $75,000.

Subject

Anacostia Neighborhood Museum

Category

Chronology of Smithsonian History

Notes

Torch, 9/1976, p. 3

Contact information

Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu

Date

July 20, 1976

Topic

  • Fire
  • Accidents
  • Fires

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