27 evacuated from UK hospital blaze

By Steve Bagnall
Daily Post

WREXHAM, Wales — Patients including babies had to be evacuated after a fire broke out at a hospital over the weekend.

The drama unfolded when a blaze broke out at Wrexham Maelor Hospital late on Friday and four fire engines were scrambled.

In total 27 patients had to be evacuated after the fire was detected including three babies. There were no reports of any injuries following the blaze.

Three crews of firefighters from Wrexham and another crew from Johnstown attended at around 11.40pm on Friday.

The fire crews located a small fire on the ground floor of the hospital which was extinguished.

The patients were evacuated after staff raised the alarm on detecting smoke.

The fire originated on the ground floor in a room located off the outpatient ward which was unoccupied at the time.

Smoke had travelled up to the first floor of the building affecting mainly two wards. These were Bromfield Ward and Bonney Ward, which resulted in the evacuation of 24 patients.

At the time there were three infants from an adjacent special care unit who also had to be evacuated as a precaution.

The infants were returned to special care after the fire was put out.

The remaining patients were to be cared for elsewhere at the hospital for the time being.

Following the blaze an inquiry was launched by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service investigators.

The exact cause of the fire was unknown yesterday but was thought to be accidental.

A NWFRS spokesman said: Four fire appliances were mobilised to a fire at Wrexham Maelor Hospital at 23.39 hours on Friday 8 February.

"Three crews of firefighters from Wrexham and another crew from Johnstown attended and located a small fire on the ground floor of the hospital which was extinguished using four sets of breathing apparatus and one hose reel jet.

"In all, 27 patients were evacuated after staff raised the alarm on detecting smoke.

Nobody was available to give any more details at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board over the weekend.

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