1978 National Archives vault fire
Employees watch explosions as poisonous hydrogen cyanide and sulfur dioxide gases spread through the area. | |
| Date | December 7, 1978 |
|---|---|
| Location | Suitland, Maryland, United States |
| Cause | Ignition of stored nitrate film |
| Outcome | Loss of archived newsreels |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 18 (14 firefighters, three civilians and one police officer) |
A major fire occurred at the National Archives and Records Administration's film vault in Suitland, Maryland, on December 7, 1978. The fire destroyed 12.6 million feet of Universal Pictures Newsreel footage from 1929 to 1951, including the bombing of Pearl Harbor, other World War II combat footage, and the Great Depression.