|
|
|
|
|
6 December 2024
|
City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department firefighters responded to a building fire incident at Netcare Pretoria East Hospital
The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department received a call at 18h59 on Thursday, 5 December 2024, regarding a fire that broke out at Netcare Pretoria East Hospital. Lindsay Zwelithini Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer, City of Tshwane Emergency Services, said, “The Emergency Communications Centre (ECC) immediately dispatched the first three nearest fire stations to the incident. The firefighting resources included two engine pumpers, one rapid intervention unit, a water tanker and a mobile communication unit.”
“On arrival, the preliminary report was given to the ECC was that the eastern hospital building was well alight and certain parts of the roof had collapsed. The roof had solar panels and certain parts were on fire. Two sectors were then established by the incident commander on scene. One sector for the fire inside the building and the other sector for the fire on the roof. A third sector was later established using a ladder aerial devise to attack the fire,”said Mnguni.
He added, “The hospital staff made the crews aware of the location of lithium batteries in a separate building. They were advised that the building that caught fire was the theatre with pressurised vessels that contained a mixture of gases. Most patients in the hospital were already evacuated and some were still being evacuated on arrival of the fire brigade. The crews joined hospital staff to evacuate the remainder of the patients.”
“No injuries or fatalities were reported during firefighting operations at the incident. The fire was brought under control and at around 21h14 and certain sections of the hospital were declared safe for patients to be moved back in.”
“Firefighters began cooling down (damping down) operations at around 21h50 in the theatre area and the north area of the hospital. The cooling down operations were completed at 23h32 after an assessment to make sure that there were no smouldering fires that may flare up. Firefighters left the scene at 00h35 on Friday, 6 December 2024.”
Netcare spokesperson, Lynne O'Connor, said firefighters responded speedily and managed to contain the fire. "Ensuring the safety and well-being of our patients, healthcare workers and visitors is always our primary concern and we are thankful that no one suffered any harm from the incident. Netcare 911 paramedics, hospital staff members and several other emergency service providers ensured that the patients were safely evacuated," she said. "We are pleased to confirm that the fire department has declared the building safe and that patients, doctors and staff members have been moved back to the evacuated areas.”
O’Connor said the cause of the fire was being investigated and the extent of the damage would still need to be evaluated. "We are grateful that everyone was brought to safety and sincerely apologise to the affected patients and their families for the inconvenience."
Source: Lindsay Zwelithini Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer, City of Tshwane Emergency Services; News 24
“On arrival, the preliminary report was given to the ECC was that the eastern hospital building was well alight and certain parts of the roof had collapsed. The roof had solar panels and certain parts were on fire. Two sectors were then established by the incident commander on scene. One sector for the fire inside the building and the other sector for the fire on the roof. A third sector was later established using a ladder aerial devise to attack the fire,”said Mnguni.
He added, “The hospital staff made the crews aware of the location of lithium batteries in a separate building. They were advised that the building that caught fire was the theatre with pressurised vessels that contained a mixture of gases. Most patients in the hospital were already evacuated and some were still being evacuated on arrival of the fire brigade. The crews joined hospital staff to evacuate the remainder of the patients.”
“No injuries or fatalities were reported during firefighting operations at the incident. The fire was brought under control and at around 21h14 and certain sections of the hospital were declared safe for patients to be moved back in.”
“Firefighters began cooling down (damping down) operations at around 21h50 in the theatre area and the north area of the hospital. The cooling down operations were completed at 23h32 after an assessment to make sure that there were no smouldering fires that may flare up. Firefighters left the scene at 00h35 on Friday, 6 December 2024.”
Netcare spokesperson, Lynne O'Connor, said firefighters responded speedily and managed to contain the fire. "Ensuring the safety and well-being of our patients, healthcare workers and visitors is always our primary concern and we are thankful that no one suffered any harm from the incident. Netcare 911 paramedics, hospital staff members and several other emergency service providers ensured that the patients were safely evacuated," she said. "We are pleased to confirm that the fire department has declared the building safe and that patients, doctors and staff members have been moved back to the evacuated areas.”
O’Connor said the cause of the fire was being investigated and the extent of the damage would still need to be evaluated. "We are grateful that everyone was brought to safety and sincerely apologise to the affected patients and their families for the inconvenience."
Source: Lindsay Zwelithini Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer, City of Tshwane Emergency Services; News 24
