Phoenix from the ashes
Sir: Having been in Venice at the time of the Fenice fire, I read Rupert Chris- tiansen's piece with some interest (Arts, 10 February). I am not sure, though, of his conspiracy theory — negligence, stupidity or sheer incompetence would seem to be a more plausible combination. The woeful inadequacies of Venice's fire department were particularly cruelly exposed, ill- equipped and under manned as it is.
Where Christiansen is wrong is in saying that it was a windless night. The wind, luck- ily, was light, but still strong enough to carry burning cinders as far away as the Giudecca Canal beyond the Gesuati. The Whole western end of S. Marco towards S. Stefano, and the Dorsoduro too, were full of ash.
I watched the fire for some time at close quarters, from the far end of the campiello beside the Fenice Hotel, and could see how precarious the side walls were. Had one of them collapsed, or the wind been as strong as it was next day, it is hard to see how the fire could have been stopped from spread- ing, fierce and fast, towards S. Stefano and the Accademia. It is quite a thought.
William Packer
39 Elms Road, London SW4
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