SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Colonial Heights Library could be closed for up to a year after impacts from a fire.
The fire happened on July 26 in the library's meeting room, and the impacts to that room, the electrical and the HVAC system have to be addressed before the branch reopens.
“We do not know right now. That should be the maximum amount of time that it is closed,” said Cathy Crosthwaite, deputy director of Public Services for the Sacramento Public Library. “We do not want to give the community any false hope. We would love to have it open quickly. But we also know that we need to do everything possible to get it back to the where exactly it was before the fire started.”
This is coming at a challenging time, as kids enjoy summer programs, people seeking refuge from the heat and Presidential Election is a few months away.
“People come here and vote, so I do not know where we go. Where they are going to redirect folks to vote,” said Faye Wilson Kennedy, who is the past president of the Colonial Heights Friends of the Library. “It is a hub where people gather and meet, share information share resources. It is kind of sad, but I am trying to stay positive.”
Authorities are assessing the damage and starting restoration efforts. In the meantime, the library is working to develop interim library services to support the community during the closure.
“If I can encourage them to open sooner, I would love it for that to be like a top priority for them,” said Dana Fleischman, a Colonial Heights resident. "It means a lot of different things for a lot of different kinds of people. And it is devastating that we are without it for a period of time.”
The Sacramento Fire said no one was injured during the kitchen fire.
A Library official said the fire agency told them the cause was an accident as something was likely left near the stove.
Library and fire officials are thankful that the rest of the library, books and computers were saved.
The library is hoping to come up with a plan on how to continue library services to the area and they hope to release that plan in about 3 to 4 weeks.
All of the items place on hold can be picked at the Southgate Library.
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