Fire at Steve Biko Hospital: 21 patients evacuated
Tshwane Emergency Management Services (EMS) evacuated 21 patients from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) following a fire at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria on Saturday.
The fire was reported just after midnight.
Tshwane EMS spokesperson Lindsay Mnguni says firefighting resources teams were dispatched immediately after the report of the blaze was received.
Resources from three fire stations, including 2 fire engines, rapid intervention units, a ladder, and command units were deployed.
"On arrival, the firefighters found that the management and staff members of the hospital had already commenced with the evacuation procedures.
“Firefighters immediately began with firefighting operations and also assisted with the evacuation of patients and staff to other wards of the hospital that were not affected by the fire," says Mnguni.
Mnguni says the fire originated in the 7th-floor plant room, where lithium-ion batteries in the Uninterrupted Power System (UPS) caught fire.
"The batteries serve as a backup system in the case of a power failure.
“One of the hospital’s electricians came and isolated the power supply to these batteries to stop them from further damage," he adds.
Mnguni says firefighters used three mechanical ventilation units to remove smoke from affected areas.
All patients and staff were safely evacuated, and there were no injuries during the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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