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Grass Mountain Chateau Fire Aftermath

Grass Mountain Chateau after the fire Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin arrived at Grass Mountain Chateau on April 7 to inspect the aftermath of a fire that severely damaged the historical complex. He listened to briefings provided by the Taipei City Fire Department (TCFD), Department of Cultural Affairs (DOCA), and Taipei City Police Department (TCPD) on the disaster. Hau was saddened by the damage from the fire, and noted that the three agencies (TCFD, DOCA, and TCPD) will form a crisis management team to investigate the cause of the fire, and deal with its aftermath. In response to whether this was an arsonist fire, the mayor said that he will not speculate. However, the city government has taken necessary precautions, and has requested TCPD to step up its patrol at important historical sites such as the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and the Shilin Presidential Residence. Hau pointed out that while history and historical figures could be criticized by people, historical buildings and monuments are blameless. All members of society share the responsibility of protecting these remnants of history such as monuments and artifacts. TCPD remarked that it received reports about the fire at 12:24 a.m.; the fire was put out by 1:19 a.m. Unfortunately, all wooden portions of the original building were destroyed. TCFD Commissioner Hsiung Kwang-hua said that initial investigation revealed that the worst damage occurred in the restaurant (dining) area. According to the agreement between DOCA and building management, the use of fire is strictly prohibited. The exact cause of the destruction will require further investigation. Additional analysis of the remains of the building for evidence and information is necessary. DOCA Commissioner Lee Yong-ping said that the fire did not seriously damage historical documents, as all items on display at the chateau – including photos and clothing – are replicas. Originals were all stored away at other locations. In terms of the structure, Lee noted that reconstruction is possible, as the stone portions of the building remains intact, and the wooden parts can be replaced based on the site’s original design.