The State Hermitage Museum: Hermitage News

75th Anniversary of the Fire Brigade of the State Hermitage

On 19 July 2004 the anniversary of the Fire Brigade of the State Hermitage was celebrated in the Hermitage Theater. Staff of the 62nd Fire Brigade were hailed by Deputy Director for Exhibitions and Development V. Yu. Matveev, Deputy Director for Personnel A. K. Baturin and Deputy Director for Operations, Chief Engineer A.V. Bogdanov..

Seventy-five years ago, on 15 July 1929, the post of "director of the firefighting service" was established. In addition to the director, four firemen were employed permanently. By 1940 the fire brigade already numbered 25 men.

From the very start of World War II, the Hermitage was given special fire protection in keeping with its status as a particularly important landmark. At the end of May, 1942, there were 60 employees in the fire brigade. During the Siege of Leningrad, about half of the staff died from exhaustion. The equipment available to firefighters at that time included foam fire extinguishers, spades, buckets, indoor hydrants and fire hoses. Sand was used to put out incendiary bombs. During the war the personnel was busy not only with protecting the buildings from fire and with preventive measures along reinforced sections, but also with evacuation of museum treasures, keeping order in the museum, preparing fuel for heating and with other daily operations.

During the period from 1946 to 1953, the State Hermitage gradually was equipped with CO? fire extinguishers. A hydro-pneumatic system was introduced and two fire pumps were installed in order to ensure high pressure water supply (to 8 atmospheres) in case of fire through a dedicated system of firefighting pipes.

On 25 March 1974 the 62nd militarized Fire Brigade took an oath of office.
Today the 62nd Fire Brigade employs more than 80 staff. It has a main division in the Hermitage and three remote fire posts: in the Menshikov Palace, the Storage Warehouse and the General Staff building.

At present all facilities are equipped with automatic fire detection and warning systems. In the Winter Palace the automatic fire alarms have been supplied by Honeywell (USA) and the areas directly wired to the main firefighting panel include the basement, rooms of the third floor, Treasure Gallery -1, Treasure Gallery-2, as well as the Nicholas, Alexander and Concert Halls, the Anteroom and the Eastern Gallery.

Òhe technical level of the Hermitage’s firefighting facilities is constantly being improved. The museum has acquired four backpack units of Needle fire extinguishers for putting out fires within rooms, in open space and for localizing fires within rooms where there are special requirements for preserving the equipment and documents.

Special attention is devoted to ensuring fire safety in the Hermitage Theater. The Theater is equipped with a water system for extinguishing fires. Fire resistant substances have been applied to the inflammable supports below the theater, the stage floor, the electrical cables, the fire system and the weight-bearing metal elements of the theater. Those areas which present a particular fire risk are equipped with an automatic system of gas-based fire extinction..

Staff of the 62nd Fire Brigade regularly carry out training for museum employees in ways to maintain the fire prevention regime in the museum and steps to take in case dangerous situations should develop.

At the ceremony

Presenting anniversary diplomas and letters of appreciation

In the hall of the Hermitage Theater