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National Library of Wales fire investigation to begin National Library of Wales fire: Part of collection damaged
(about 1 hour later)
An investigation will be launched after a major fire destroyed part of a roof at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth. A small part of the collection at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth is thought to have suffered water damage following a roof fire.
The section of roof on what is known as building two took around 50 firefighters nearly four hours to bring under control on Friday. Arwel Jones, director of public services at the library, said water used to fight the blaze on Friday had leaked through five or six floors.
A specialist salvage firm from Oxford is assessing if any damage has been caused to the library's collection. An investigation has been launched after the blaze destroyed a section of roof on what is known as building two.
The building will remain closed to the public on Monday. It took around 50 firefighters nearly four hours to bring it under control.
The fire service is also working with library staff to "protect the many national treasures" held there. A specialist salvage company from Oxford has been assessing the damage caused to the collection.
Up to 300 staff and 100 visitors were evacuated from the building when the alarm was raised at 14:40 BST on Friday. The building was closed to the public on Saturday and will remain shut on Monday, but it could reopen on Tuesday.
Up to 300 staff and 100 visitors were evacuated when the alarm was raised at 14:40 BST on Friday.
The affected area was largely used as office space and for new acquisitions.
"It's been a very, very busy day. The specialist retrieval staff have arrived from Oxford - they've been here all day on site," said Mr Jones told BBC Wales on Saturday.
"The fire brigade have been here all day finishing off their work and conducting their investigation and the library staff have worked very, very hard on all sorts of tasks.
"All that water being poured into the top of the building has literally poured through five or six floors, so there's water damage all through that part of the building.
"That's damage to the structure of the building and to the offices and, of course, any collections that were being worked on at the time.
"As far as we can ascertain at the moment the damage to the collections is limited. This isn't storage facility - it is office space - so it could be much, much worse than it is."
Mr Jones said the library would be open to staff on Monday and around 70 would be relocated after their offices were damaged by the fire.
Workers had been repairing the roof near to where the fire started, but there is no evidence linking them to the incident.Workers had been repairing the roof near to where the fire started, but there is no evidence linking them to the incident.
Reports from the scene suggested a 100ft (30m) section was destroyed.Reports from the scene suggested a 100ft (30m) section was destroyed.
The affected area was largely used as office space and for new acquisitions. The library has been closed to the public on Saturday and officials have announced that it will also be shut on Monday.
Arwel Jones, director of public services at the library, told BBC Radio Wales: "About 70 members of staff would have been affected by water damage more than fire damage," he said.
"But, of course, those members of staff would have been working with various parts of the collection and that's something we will have to ascertain as the salvage operation continues.
"A specialist salvage company from Oxford arrived between 9 and 10 o'clock last night. They've made their initial recce of the building.
"We are confident we have been able to minimise that damage and it isn't a space that is predominantly a storage space - it is office space."
Mr Jones described the library's significant collection as the "memory of the nation".Mr Jones described the library's significant collection as the "memory of the nation".
He said it contained six million books, a million photographs, 30,000 manuscripts, works of art and maps.He said it contained six million books, a million photographs, 30,000 manuscripts, works of art and maps.
Many of the library's books were unique and would not be found elsewhere, he added.Many of the library's books were unique and would not be found elsewhere, he added.
Firefighters, some from as far afield as Carmarthen 50 miles (80km) away, attended the scene along with 11 fire appliances, and it was not until 18:30 BST on Friday that the blaze was put out.Firefighters, some from as far afield as Carmarthen 50 miles (80km) away, attended the scene along with 11 fire appliances, and it was not until 18:30 BST on Friday that the blaze was put out.
Mark Cole, an historian and chairman of Ceredigion council, was at the library when the fire started.
'Historic documents'
He said historians around the UK had shown concern for the hundreds of unique documents and books held within the library following the blaze.
"I was with Cardigan Castle archive group and we were in a middle of a tour of the national library when the fire alarm went off," said Mr Cole.
"We thought it was a false alarm, but after being evacuated we soon realised there was a fire in the roof. It was scary and upsetting - everybody was shocked.
"There has been genuine concern from historians on Twitter about the extent of the damage and the threat to unique and historic documents.
"The national library is one of only five deposit libraries in the UK [which can request a free copy of every single publication].
"It's a very, very significant library not just in Wales but in the UK. It's a special place."
Library staff said it was not known how the fire started, but everyone was safe.Library staff said it was not known how the fire started, but everyone was safe.
Aled Gruffydd Jones, who takes over as head librarian in August, said on Friday that he was puzzled by how the fire could have started. "Clearly we need an inquiry," he added.Aled Gruffydd Jones, who takes over as head librarian in August, said on Friday that he was puzzled by how the fire could have started. "Clearly we need an inquiry," he added.
The Aberystwyth University sports centre, which is next door to the library, was closed as a precaution.The Aberystwyth University sports centre, which is next door to the library, was closed as a precaution.