Archives restoration work continues after fire

Repairs, protective measures and off-site preservation efforts are continuing as the Archives Department recovers from a fire and structural damage two years ago, according to Pan African Affairs and Heritage Minister Trevor Prescod.

A fire sparked by a lightning strike just before midnight on June 18, 2024, destroyed a two-storey block at the Archives Department which housed major historic documents. 

Chief archivist Ingrid Thompson said then that only a few records were salvaged from Block D at the Black Rock, St Michael compound.

Prescod told Barbados TODAY that he had recently toured the site and was briefed by administrative leaders about detailed structural repairs, equipment installations and measures implemented to safeguard historical records.

He said: “It’s obvious the area that was actually burnt, when we put it back where the roof is restored, the interior section we have not been able to pave the inside as yet.”

Beyond structural repairs to the fire-damaged sections, authorities are working to fortify the property against future hazards and environmental risks. Prescod explained that specialised equipment is being introduced to prevent prospective threats to the remaining facilities.

“We are now installing a lot of equipment, and, I guess you might call it repelling, any kind of devices that will help to reduce the endangering of the entire area.”

Addressing public concerns regarding the safety of irreplaceable historical documents, Prescod assured that valuable archival materials had been relocated away from the immediate hazard zone. “I think the books are secured in another location outside the exact area where the lightning struck with antenna and bounces onto the building. 

“We have the materials secured in another area at present, but I don’t want to say anything to make the staff or anybody believe that we’re not making progress.” 

Essential materials had been brought in to facilitate the ongoing work, said Prescod, mentioning that “they imported some stuff”, though the head of the department indicated that technical installation processes remain under way.

When questioned about whether a formal report detailing the full extent of the damage had been finalised and made public, Prescod acknowledged that he could not provide a definitive timeline or loss breakdown.

“No, I can’t tell you,” he responded regarding the release of an official assessment detailing items lost versus those salvaged. “Don’t forget that some of the records will be restored.”

He further noted that efforts to preserve historical items involved off-site initiatives and digitisation workflows across partner entities. Some records have been transferred to the R.O.A.D (Restoring Our Atlantic Destiny) digitisation project on the Harbour Road.  

In addition to addressing the aftermath of the fire, Prescod highlighted ongoing masonry work and structural maintenance across the wider site, dispelling suggestions that full-scale construction of a separate facility had begun. “No, we’re doing work down there at present. Masons are there,” he explained.

He disclosed that maintenance crews are currently confronting severe structural issues caused by natural growth on the eastern perimeter.

“We have a tree that penetrated — the roots from the tree penetrated the eastern wall in the archives,” Prescod revealed. 

To resolve the compromise to the building’s structural integrity, technical teams are evaluating immediate engineering solutions. 

“We’re now looking at either building an interior wall or demolishing that one and reconstructing on the eastern side,” he added.

Prescod emphasised that, despite complex operational and environmental challenges, dedicated teams remain focused on stabilising the infrastructure, protecting sensitive historical assets and completing critical masonry work to bring the facility back to full functionality.