Problem ochrony przeciwpożarowej drewnianych zabytków sakralnych

The fire o f the mid-17th century wooden church at Zabełków, in the region of Opole Silesia was a note of alarm which has again brought into relief the urgency of the problem of fire-protection of historical monuments, especially, the wooden ones. The economic transformations taking place in this country for some years past account for the fact that the wooden monuments of laic architecture w ill scon be a rarity in the provinces. The situation is different, however, as regards such monuments of sacral architecture (ca 1630 churches and 450 bell-towers) still used for religious worship purposes and, thus, as socially useful, having better prospects for their preservation, in situ. The major part of loses in wooden monuments, substained after the conclusion of the Second World War, were caused by fires due to various defects in electrical and lightning conductor installation, its incorrect handling and lack of proper maintenance. Nevertheless, the mere knowledge of the causes of fires it not tantamount to elimination of the losses caused by them. What is also necessary is knowledge o f the ways of preventing and fighting fires. It was piecisely for the purpose of dissemination of that knowledge that PAX Publishers issued, in 1974, the booklet entitled: Pożary kościołów i kaplic (Fires of Churches and Chapels). Its author, Stanisław Pągowski, Colonel of the Fire Brigade, gives in the last chapter the legal regulations binding in this country in the sphere of fire protection. It seems advisable that a part of the impression of that book be purchased by the General Conservator’s Office and circulated among the users of wooden monuments. Moreover, a long-range programme for protection of the wooden monuments of sacral architecture should be prepared jointly by the Museums and Monument Preservation Board, the relevant Committee o f the Polish Episcopate and the Command of the Fire-Brigade. The other requirements are: intensification of systematic inspection of the electrical and lightning conductor installations, providing the historical monuments with fire-detection and fire-control devices and a planned survey of historical monuments, with special consideration of those built of wood.