By Emiley Morgan
The Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY — A small electrical fire at a medical equipment business sent two firefighters to the hospital after they were shocked by an electric cable.
Firefighters were called to Varian Medical Systems, 1678 S. 2700 West, around 9:30 a.m. and arrived to find smoke pouring from the building, Salt Lake Fire Capt. Michael Harp said.
He said electricity to the building was shut off and the fire was put out within five minutes, but one firefighter was exposed to “significant” electric shock. “There are some lines that are high voltage and some of the electric power was still in those cables,” Harp said.
He said a second firefighter might have also been exposed to the electric shock and the two were transported to Intermountain Medical Center as a precaution.
The firefighter that was shocked was initially in fair to serious condition, but Harp said both men were released from the hospital as of 12:15 p.m.
The company evacuated 375 people from the building, but one occupant was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.
Harp credited the business for their quick response. “The company did a great job of evacuating and having accountability,” he said. “They did an excellent job. They practice regularly.”
Harp said the fire was contained to the one room and was of “an electrical nature.” He said the only damage caused was to some of the electrical equipment, which apparently sparked the fire.
Harp said the equipment was being used as it typically is in a controlled environment but that it came into contact with an oil, resulting in a fire.
“Damage was contained to the equipment being tested and the equipment used to perform the testing,” Harp said.
Copyright 2010 The Deseret News Publishing Co.