Why it matters: Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service was called to the museum's store room building after the automatic fire alarm activated. Upon arrival, crews discovered a fire had started in the electrical intake and spread to the void between the ground floor and first floor levels.
The details: Four fire engines attended the incident, with crews having to isolate electricity to the property and remove ceiling panels to access the flames. UK Power Networks attended to cut the power supply, allowing firefighting operations to proceed safely.
Firefighters deployed breathing apparatus equipment and hose reels to tackle the blaze, which caused damage to the building's ceiling. The electrical supply will remain out of service for some time.
The big picture: Despite the fire's spread through the ceiling void, artifacts stored in the room appear to have escaped damage entirely.
Fire crews emphasised that without the working automatic alarm system, the fire would have gone undetected for a considerable time and the building would probably have been lost completely.
What they're saying: A Council Spokesperson said, "The Council can confirm there was a fire at an ancillary museums storage facility last night. We are grateful to the Fire Service for their quick response.
An early inspection indicates that there was no significant damage to the items stored in this location
We also wish to make it clear that this fire was not in the main museum building, which is currently being refurbished, and we do not expect it to impact on the delivery of that project"
The bottom line: The stop message was received at 20:31, with the incident serving as a stark reminder of how fire detection systems can mean the difference between minor damage and total destruction.
