Flames tower into the night sky during an "accidental" fire at the historic library. 50,000 volumes were destroyed (over 12,000 were considered irreplacable) and 62,000 volumes were damaged.
A blackened, jumbled scene is viewed through the doors of the library; the roof has fallen in and the building is open to the sky. There are scarcely any recognizable items.
One of six Alabama libraries damaged by tornadoes in April 2011, the Pratt City Branch has damaged walls, roof, and equipment and may have to be demolished.
Use of the large, on-site freezer eliminates the need to outsource this part of the salvage process in the Art Library at the University of Iowa after fire sprinklers went off in the library in February 2009.