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FIRE ALARM: Hospital window broken as fear spread that smoke could affect patients
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by PANORAMA reporter
A window was broken as fear spread during the fire in St Bernard's Hospital that smoke could affect patients.There was already smoke ingress into Dudley Toomey Ward, which is mainly used by patients who have had an operation. They had to be evacuated to a vacant ward.
The fire alarm sounded on Wednesday evening at just after 8pm. The patients returned to their ward nearly 3 hours later.
Early reports reaching PANORAMA said that a Dry Riser had caught fire and that the fire system had not worked properly which led to a window being broken to let smoke out.
The window was in fact broken on the recommendation of the City Fire Brigade "to accelerate the evacuation of smoke from the building."
Windows in the wards are just a glass pane, with apparently no facility for opening.
A hospital spokesperson aid the fire was located in a basement service duct. An inquiry into the incident is being carried out by the fire brigade, and another inquiry by the hospital itself.
IN FULL: Hospital statement
Said the Health Authority yesterday: "Last evening at 20.08 the fire alarm sounded at St Bernards Hospital.
"The staff trained in fire safety immediately activated fire procedures.
"As there was smoke ingress into Dudley Toomey Ward, patients were horizontally evacuated to one of the vacant wards according to the plan designed in conjunction with, and approved by the Fire Brigade.
"The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire, which was located in a basement service duct.
"The ward was cleaned and ventilated and patients returned at approximately 22.45.
"There was no risk to patients or staff as evacuation procedures were performed according to the plan. Patients remained calm throughout the evacuation.
"The Hospital?s compartmentation design and containment systems worked to standard.
"The GHA Management wished to express its gratitude for the professionalism of all it?s staff who returned the hospital to full operation last evening. Two enquiries into the cause of fire, one internal and one by the fire brigade have already commenced."
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