Statement 11-07-1310. Helebrost Department of Safety.
This statement outlines the approximate times of major events pertaining to the major incident which occurred at the Helebrost Institute of Magics, 7th of Malice, 1310. Long Live The Emperor.
11-07, 1:45 PM Significant Smoke seen rising from west tower, HIM. Call for brigade organization sent to HDS Nature presumed mundane
11-07 1:54 PM Brigade assembles outside HIM, West. Flame seen engulfing the tower's top floor
11-07 2:01 PM Intel from on-site staff indicate fire possibly due to run-away magic, details unclear. Request for Riot Control sent to HDS Request for more manpower sent to HDS and nearby districts.
11-07 2:13 PM Riot Squad arrives and establishes zone of control. Fire Brigade begins work clearing the building
11-07 2:17 PM Brilliant light seen emanating from top of HIM, West Tower. Request for more manpower sent to HDS Roof partially collapses inward. Radius of control is expanded.
11-07 2:28 PM City wide fire brigades assembled, Pumping station is functional. Water is observed to be reduced to steam without contacting the tower
11-07 2:45 PM Explosion is heard as tower partially collapses inwards, Floors from 4th upwards are destroyed and fall into the tower. Blinding light from 2nd floor is visible. Light and falling debris causes injuries in some emergency persons.
11-07 2:48 PM Fire spreads to HIM Helderon Hall Cordon Order given by Lucas Armsten, HDS. Efforts begin to isolate the burning buildings from the rest of campus, assume full loss of afflicted buildings. Light from Tower reported to ignite materials on contact within 50ft of tower. Unconfirmed
11-07 4:11 PM Water deemed ineffective on primary source, switched to damage control by order of Lucas Armsten, HDS Deafening howl reported from HIM, West Tower.
11-07 4:53 PM Explosion felt across the capital at 4:53 PM, Origin is HIM West. Burning debris seen flying hundreds of feet into the air.
11-07 4:59 PM State of Emergency Declared in Helderon South, evacuation order given. Debris seen up to 5 miles away Hundreds of fires reported Dispatch order given to all state and military personnel.
11-08 1:00 AM Coordinated efforts by military and emergency persons complete evacuation of Helderon, South Quarter. Est. 1200 persons missing or dead.
11-08 6:30 AM Fires spread through low income district unimpeded, inner gates blockaded in effort to prevent spread to the upper city. South Quarter completely locked down
11-09 10:00 AM Fires isolated from initial source and Low income/market area under control Lower City Cordoned by Mages' guild in effort to control the wildfire.
11-09 8:45 PM Wind Shift causes fire to break containment, West Avenue Wall evacuated Reports of Fire tornadoes confirmed Eastward Expansion contained, Northward slowing. Nothing left southward to save.
11-10 3:17 AM West Avenue Wall collapsed in 1/4 mile stretch, near fishmarket street. Cordon Efforts proving effective in stopping Northward spread
11-10 4:00 AM West District Emergency Declared to allow for cordoning efforts in highly populated areas
11-10 5:27 AM Moderate rainfall recorded Wind slows significantly
11-11 6:00 AM East and Northward Fronts quickly retreating. Fire has exhausted its fuel in those sectors Westward spread is slowed Diplomats dispatched to Tarbrind seeking humanitarian aid.
11-11 11:21 AM Wind shift blows Southward into open land. control deemed unnecessary. West District Deemed contained
11-11 2:00 PM West district Emergency lifted All fronts rapidly pushed back towards ground zero
11-11 9:47 PM HIM grounds reached by emergency personnel, no survivors found. No remaining corpses found, determined to be incinerated. Stonework of West Tower is reportedly in a molten state.
11-12 6:00 AM South District Lockdown lifted, Salvage operation ordered by HDS Council
11-12 12:00 PM Emperor Tours desolated areas Military on patrol to prevent unrest
END OF REPORT TIMELINE
ADDENDUM
From 11-12 to 11-16, Multiple small fires were reported and controlled. An estimated 3.5 Square miles of city were completely destroyed in the conflagration. Near ground zero, stonework was observed to be melted, with evidence that liquid stone was flowing down the streets.
The initial explosion is estimated to have killed nearly 1300 people, most of whom were emergency response persons. The following blaze killed another 500, as many were trapped by the hundreds of fires sparked by the explosion. Nearly 100,000 people were left without homes.
Aid caravans began arriving 2 weeks later, carrying valuable food and medicine, as well as tools and most importantly, many people seeking work.
The practice of large scale magic was banned within city limits following the catastrophe, and the school of magic was not rebuilt until nearly a decade later, located almost 3 miles from the city walls. A large public square with the largest fountain in the city was erected on the site as a memorial to those who gave their lives to combat the flames. It depicts some 200 life-sized figures of wrought brass in various active poses amidst an enormous reflecting pool. The names of all known lost souls are engraved around the base of the pool. The square is overlooked by the Emperor's Honor guard to this day.