Source : Perth Now news
Three hospital staff and a patient are being assessed for injuries after an electrical fault linked to medical equipment caused a major fire in the intensive care unit at Fiona Stanley Hospital on Thursday, prompting an emergency response as staff were evacuated, ambulances diverted and some surgeries cancelled.
Non-urgent visitors are being advised to avoid the hospital, with damage from the fire, smoke and water sprinklers forcing the closure of some areas including outpatient clinics.
The paediatric ED has also been closed, with child patients temporarily sharing a facility with adult patients.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said investigators determined that a fault in an “electrical point” in an ICU room was to blame for the fire, which set of a direct brigade alarm at 10.05am. It is understood powered medical equipment has been linked to the blaze.
Nine fire crews arrived within four minutes of the alarm, and before the fire was contained to the room by 10.24am.
The fire was extinguished by 10.30am. It is understood some areas were damaged by water, smoke and fire, with DFES stating “the room the fire originated in, and the neighbouring room has been damaged by smoke mostly”.
Staff in the area were evacuated and a code yellow emergency alert was issued, advising staff of a code red incident in the ICU on level one of the hospital in Murdoch.
A spokesperson for the South Metropolitan Health Service said three staff members and a patient were “undergoing clinical assessment.”
“The hospital’s well-developed business continuity plans have been enacted. 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 spokesperson said.
“Due to residual water damage and smoke impact some services will remain temporarily closed while remedial works are undertaken.”
“We apologise to our patients for any inconvenience.”
