Fiona Stanley Hospital’s intensive care unit evacuated after fire
Three staff members and a patient are being assessed after a fire broke out in the intensive care unit at Fiona Stanley Hospital on Thursday morning.
A Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesperson said crews were alerted just after 10am to the blaze in a “self-contained room” in the ICU.
This masthead has been told by a source that the fire may have originated in a bed at the unit.
It is understood other hospitals have been told to prepare for an influx of ambulance patients who would usually be taken by Fiona Stanley Hospital, while the unit is cleaned and water is cleared.
A South Metropolitan Health Service spokesperson did not say whether anyone was injured in the blaze, just that a patient and three staff members were being “clinically assessed”.
The spokesperson said emergency plans have been enacted, but the emergency department remained open.
“This includes cautionary but necessary actions including patient relocation from the ward where the fire commenced, short-term ambulance diversions and disruption to some surgical and outpatient services,” the statement said.
“For now, paediatric and adult emergency patients will share a facility.”
The statement says due to residual water damage and smoke impact, some services will remain temporarily closed while remedial works are undertaken.
“Non-urgent visitors are urged to postpone their visit to the hospital, while our staff work to return services to normal,” the spokesperson said.
A Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said crews arrived “within four minutes” of being alerted to the fire.
She said the fire was extinguished by 10.30am. DFES investigative crews remained at the hospital in the afternoon, attempting to determine the cause of the fire.
A St John Ambulance spokesperson said they had crews at the hospital on standby if they were needed for assistance.
The South Metropolitan Health Service spokesperson said there would be further updates when they become available.
5News aggregated this summary from the outlet’s public feed. The full article, with all the context, is on www.smh.com.au — the content belongs to Sydney Morning Herald - National.
