NEED TO KNOW
- 77 patients had to be evacuated along with all staff when flames engulfed a hospital in Dickson City, Pennsylvania
- The blaze took place at Lehigh Valley Hospital at around 9:40 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb 4
- Firefighters had the blaze under control by midnight, and there were no reported injuries
A hospital in Pennsylvania has been evacuated after catching on fire.
On Wednesday, Feb. 4, the Dickson City Fire Department revealed in a post on Facebook that they had responded to a fire at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Dickson City at around 9:40 p.m.
“The fire was on the roof of the original building, which was known as Scranton Orthopedics,” the statement read. “This building was attached to the newly constructed building, which became Lehigh Valley Hospital.”
Authorities said that while the fire didn’t make its way inside the building, the structure is facing smoke and water damage.
Dickson City Fire Department Facebook
“Upon arrival, Numerous Police from across the Mid Valley area, hospital staff and EMS were in the process of evacuating hospital patients and did a tremendous job,” the fire department said.
They added that Lackawanna County EMA and Pennsylvania State Police also assisted in evacuating patients and staff from the hospital. Per PBS and NPR affiliate WVIA , six of the 77 evacuated patients were in intensive care and were evacuated first.
In pictures shared by the department, the hospital’s Orthopedic Institute can be seen engulfed in flames.
Citing officials, WVIA reported that, “No patients, staff or firefighters were injured, though some patients were already asleep in the four-story hospital when the fire was reported at 9:40 p.m.”
“Everybody is safe,” Dickson City Fire Chief Rich Chowanec said, per the outlet. “All four floors of the hospital, plus the emergency room, were evacuated. They did a fantastic job.”
PEOPLE has contacted the Lehigh Valley Hospital, Pennsylvania State Police and Dickson City Fire Department for further comment, but didn’t immediately receive responses.
Dickson City Fire Department Facebook
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Governor of Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro wrote on X, “Thank you to every first responder running toward danger to help their fellow Pennsylvanians. Lori [Shapiro, his wife] and I are praying for the staff, patients, their families, and the entire community tonight.”
After the blaze was under control, Chowanec addressed local media, saying, “Electricity was shut off. A firewall designed to prevent fire from spreading between the orthopedics center and the main hospital saved the main hospital from extensive damage.”
Meanwhile, State Rep. for Dickson City, Bridget Kosierowski, praised the “all-hands-on-deck” response by officials, per WVIA. “I think these patients are in shock,” Kosierowski said. “They just got bolted out of a hospital that is on fire. This is unprecedented.”
The incident is being investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Unit, according to the Dickson City Fire Department. It’s currently unclear what caused the fire.
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