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Wilhelmshöhe Castle: Fire brigade on a large scale due to toxic gases!
Fire brigade operation in Kassel: Evacuation of Wilhelmshöhe Castle due to toxic gases from old film rolls, caused by high temperatures.
Wilhelmshöhe Castle: Fire brigade on a large scale due to toxic gases!
A major fire department operation was necessary today at Wilhelmshöhe Castle in Kassel. The reason for this was the formation of toxic gases from old celluloid film rolls, which began to decompose at the current high temperatures. Around 80 firefighters were on duty from 10:40 a.m. to neutralize the source of danger in the archives of the Hessen Kassel Heritage Museum Administration (HKH). While part of the castle had to be evacuated, the museum remained open in other areas, such as the picture gallery, as hessenschau.de reported.
The cause of the threatening situation were around 70-year-old celluloid film reels from the 1950s. These decompose at temperatures above around 25 degrees and release dangerous fumes. Fire chief Tobias Winter explained the urgency of the operation and warned of the constant fire risk posed by these films. The materials affected include not only impressive historical documents, but also brand new challenges for archivists.
Evacuation and cooling
As part of the operation, two HKH employees received medical treatment for minor symptoms of paralysis. The fire department transported the endangered films in a special refrigerated container set at three degrees Celsius to prevent further damage. After a total of around six and a half hours, the operation was completed around 5 p.m. As already decided before use, the film rolls will not return to the archive, but will be digitized, reports hessennews.tv.
The decomposition process of celluloid film rolls should not be underestimated. Already in the first stage of decomposition, toxic gases are formed that are heavier than air and have a pungent smell. Under the wrong conditions, flammable materials can even form. The Federal Archives points out that celluloid is flammable when undestroyed and can be difficult to extinguish if ignited, which made the situation at Wilhelmshöhe Castle alarming.
Checking the archive holdings
The Minister of Art and Culture, Timon Gremmels, immediately announced a thorough review of the archive holdings and additional protective measures. A total of six file cabinets containing valuable images were identified as affected. However, the return of the cleared area to normal conditions requires the approval of the Office of Occupational Safety and Health.
Current events highlight the importance of careful storage and handling of historical materials. It is hoped that the measures taken can prevent future threats of this kind.