About 168 patients and staff members were evacuated from the Turku University Hospital on Friday morning when fire broke out in one of the buildings of the compound.
The fire, in building A, was soon brought under control. The building contains the hospital’s emergency room, as well as two internal medicine departments, a department of neurosurgery, and a trauma ward.
At least three staff members have been treated for smoke inhalation. There were no fatalities or serious injuries reported.
Some of the evacuated patients were taken from the building in their hospital beds. They included patients who were still under anaesthesia after surgery.
Other patients in the building were moved to other hospital buildings, but about ten patients in intensive care were kept in the building. A hospital spokesman said that their care did not suffer because of the fire.
The fire spread through the building’s electric cable ducts. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
The fire brigade got the automatic alarm at about 5:30 in the morning.
“The first units saw immediately that there was much smoke and they called for more help”, says Juha Virto, who led the rescue effort.
The hospital has opened a telephone line for next of kin of patients to ask about developments. The number is +3592 3133500.
Helsingin Sanomat
2.9.2011 - TODAY
Over 100 evacuated from fire in Turku University Hospital
Over 100 evacuated from fire in Turku University Hospital