Team work by NIDCR scientists and animal program staff, the NIH Animal Resources Team members, volunteers from other ICs and employees of the Division of Veterinary Resources (DVR) rescued over 10,000 research animals after a fire in Building 30. In freezing weather, in the middle of the night, the fire caused the loss of power and heating in the building endangering the lives of the animals and ongoing research. The team of NIH staff formed human chains, handing animals cages down darkened stairways as the building rapidly cooled.
About 70 NIDCR scientists turned out to move the animals. In the photos, most of the people on the stairwell are NIDCR scientists, including the IC Director and SD and the NICHD Animal Program Director who all worked the entire time. Even though the NIH Animal Resource Team was not officially activated many of it’s members were there including Pat Brown (OACU), Barry Muffley (DVR), Kelly Prevost (DVR), John DeLeonardis (NIAID), Matt Schech (NICHD), and Debra Lust (NICHD). In addition, other volunteers included DVR, NICHD, and Priority One management staff. Also, the lead for Priority One, Pepe Figueroa, worked through the night and brought the only treats for the evening, hot coffee and donuts for everyone around 2 a.m. The whole process took about 8 hours starting around 6:30 p.m. and finishing the animal move about 2:30 a.m.
Rebecca Martinez the Animal Program Manager for NIDCR, Eileen Morgan, Peggy Novicky, Debra Lust, Milton Papa, and Valerie Harrington (all from DVR) stayed after the animals were finally relocated and changed those cages that had gotten wet from the water bottles during the move. These folks worked through the night and into the next day.
Everyone who helped with this effort deserves a lot of credit, it was cold, dark, with no food or water to speak of and no breaks. |
