Jerez hospital evacuated due to basement fire

TWO hundred patients had to be evacuated from a hospital in Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz) when a fire broke out in the basement in the early hours of Tuesday morning (May 24).

Luckily, the Cadiz Health Department has reported, no serious injuries were registered, although two security guards required treatment after inhaling smoke, mainly thanks to the fact that the evacuation plan worked perfectly and all patients, relatives and staff in the building at the time collaborated efficiently.

The first calls were received at 1am alerting to the fire, and the fire brigade, National and Local Police officers and paramedics were sent to the scene, and five floors of the hospital evacuated as a precaution due to the presence of thick smoke.

The flames were contained and extinguished before they spread from the basement, however windows had to be broken to help clear the smoke on higher floors before the majority of the patients could be returned to their rooms. Thirty-nine were moved to other hospitals where they remain for the time being.

 “Activity is returning to normal and we are evaluating the damage. We would like to stress how well the evacuation plan worked and thank patients, relatives and all the hospital staff for their collaboration,” the Health department stated.

Investigations are under way to determine the cause of the fire.