Estonian Embassy gutted by fire

TALLINN - The Estonian Embassy in Washington was badly damaged in a fire on July 2. It took two-and-a-half hours to put the fire out. Damages are estimated at $2.5 million.

According to Indrek Tarand, the chancellor of Estonia's Foreign Ministry, the embassy continued diplomatic and consular work the next day at the personal apartment of Sven Jurgenson, Estonia's ambassador to the United States.

The fire started at about 7:30 p.m. when the building was empty. Firefighters were alerted by a smoke detector in the basement.

According to preliminary information, a short circuit in the cellar caused the fire. The first two floors of the five-story building were seriously damaged by fire, smoke and water.

Tarand said the building's electricity system was renovated in 1995 by an American company.

The building itself is a neo-classic mansion completed in 1905, which was formerly a doctor's residence, the Peruvian Embassy and a residence for the Landon School for Boys before it was purchased by Estonia in 1994.

"The walls suffered most of all, and some of the interior walls even collapsed. The computer network, the telephone station and the archive were also damaged," said Tarand.

He declined to comment on whether any sensitive documents were damaged.

Tarand praised the work of the American firemen, saying they even left a note in the guest book while rescuing the building.

The embassy would likely move to a rented office, which of course would not meet all the security requirements needed for a diplomatic mission's house, said Tarand.

The renting of an office would cost about 1.8 million kroons ($97,500) per year.

Estonia will restore the embassy, said Finance Minister Siim Kallas. Insurance will cover the basic costs of restoration. "The embassy must definitely be restored because it's in such a good location," he said.

"We must come up with some funds. We have the government reserve fund to fall back on in the event of major disasters like this."