Internet Archive, a non-profit digital library that archives websites and keeps electronic forms of cultural artifacts, lost one of its 30 scanning buildings to a fire at around 4 a.m. on the morning of Nov. 6, in San Francisco's Richmond District.
The fire did not spread to any other archive buidings, Brewster Kahle, the founder and digital librarian at Internet Archive, told Mashable. It did damage a church, business and residence, though, and eight people were displaced as of this morning.
We have had a fire in a scanning center. No one hurt. Our data and main building are safe, and website back soon.
— Internet Archive (@internetarchive) November 6, 2013
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Kahle said the archive lost scanners, cameras, lights, chairs, desks and other materials to the flames, and that the damage hadn't been completely assessed yet as everyone is still in a daze.
"I don't have any real [cost] estimations," Kahle said. "It's a bummer."
The founder said that those who worked in the burned-down building will move to a different location for the time being, and that the organization has begun to accept donations on its website.
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Image: Flickr, Steve Rhodes