[MSN] Library remains unsafe after $2M fire damage. Cathedral City Library patrons are asked not to stop by to check out books or use computers due to safety hazards.

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Library remains unsafe after $2M fire damage

RaNeeka J. Claxton
The Desert Sun

Cathedral City Library patrons are asked not to stop by to check out books
or use computers due to safety hazards.

The library, at 33-520 Date Palm Drive, is closed due to a fire late Friday
night that burned a hole through the roof, causing an estimated $2 million
in damage - including the entire book collection, according to authorities.

"It's not safe for the public to be here at all," city librarian Amy Dodson
said Monday. "We're working on trying to find a solution to provide service
to the public."

The Cathedral City Fire Department's preliminary investigations show the
fire may have been caused by roofing repairs that used propane torches to
heat materials and meld them together, said Chief Robert van Nortrick.

An investigator with the library's insurance company is expected to give the
final say on what caused the fire by Wednesday, van Nortrick said.

For now, patrons can still return books using bins outside the library and
get credit for bringing them back by the return date, Dodson said.

She said using a book mobile to provide some services until the library
reopens will be considered, but nothing definite has been decided.

Dodson, who was the only staffer at the library Monday, said the other
employees were sent to work at libraries in the Riverside County Library
System.

"The main thing we're concerned with is taking care of the books," Dodson
said.

The books may be readable after they're cleaned, but those that also have
water damage are beyond repair, Dodson said.

The library fire occurred nearly three weeks after the Sonic burger stand at
30-777 Date Palm Drive completely burned. Greasy rags kept in an area of the
fast-food restaurant ignited the fire, causing more than $1 million in
damage.

After the restaurant blaze, City Councilman Paul Marchand announced plans at
a Jan. 23 meeting to create a Rapid Response and Recovery Strike Team to
help the owners of businesses destroyed by fire rebuild quicker.

Though the library is city-owned, Marchand said Friday's fire shows that the
idea is feasible.

"When somebody suffers a catastrophic loss, the longer they're out of
business, we know there is a direct correlation that your business may go
under," Marchand said.

"There needs to be someone you can talk to, who can help you navigate (the
rebuilding process). The fact that we've had two very serious fires
indicates to me that we need to go from disaster to reform."

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