Described is an operation undertaken after a fire in Winnipeg, Canada, in January of 1981, to salvage records of two welfare agencies. Large fans, hair dryers, and low ambient relative humidity were used to dry active flles needed almost immediately so that social beneflts could be issued. Closed files were frozen in an unheated building, and then dried in a vacuum chamber. The chamber and the drying procedure are described. Locations in Canada of similar chambers are listed.