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Fire strikes children's hospital | Fire strikes children's hospital |
(9 minutes later) | |
A blaze at London's Great Ormond Street children's hospital has forced the evacuation of up to 40 patients and staff. | A blaze at London's Great Ormond Street children's hospital has forced the evacuation of up to 40 patients and staff. |
The fire started at about 0830 BST on the cardiac wing and involved a suspected gas cylinder explosion. | The fire started at about 0830 BST on the cardiac wing and involved a suspected gas cylinder explosion. |
The entire wing was cleared, including a number of children who were being anaesthetised for surgery, but there were no reports of patient injuries. | The entire wing was cleared, including a number of children who were being anaesthetised for surgery, but there were no reports of patient injuries. |
The blaze was brought under control by a team of 30 firefighters. | The blaze was brought under control by a team of 30 firefighters. |
Two ambulances and a hazardous area response team, specialists in dealing with other risk factors like chemicals and gas canisters, were also sent to the site in Russell Square, central London. | Two ambulances and a hazardous area response team, specialists in dealing with other risk factors like chemicals and gas canisters, were also sent to the site in Russell Square, central London. |
The London Fire Brigade said four firefighters suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene. | |
We are very concerned about the potential damage to the cardiac wing and the damage it could do to our cardiac programme Dr Jane Collins, chief executive | We are very concerned about the potential damage to the cardiac wing and the damage it could do to our cardiac programme Dr Jane Collins, chief executive |
The hospital's chief executive Dr Jane Collins said its major incident plan was put into place very quickly during the blaze. | |
She said up to 40 patients were led to safety from the cardiac wing. | She said up to 40 patients were led to safety from the cardiac wing. |
"There were some children who were due to have surgery this morning so they were already in the process of being anaesthetised," Dr Collins said. | "There were some children who were due to have surgery this morning so they were already in the process of being anaesthetised," Dr Collins said. |
"We have already woken these patients up because we want to make sure they are in a stable and safe situation." | "We have already woken these patients up because we want to make sure they are in a stable and safe situation." |
She said the fire may result in the cardiac wing remaining closed for "a while". | She said the fire may result in the cardiac wing remaining closed for "a while". |
Four firefighters suffered minor injuries as they tackled the blaze | |
"We are very concerned about the potential damage to the cardiac wing and the damage it could do to our cardiac programme," Dr Collins said. | "We are very concerned about the potential damage to the cardiac wing and the damage it could do to our cardiac programme," Dr Collins said. |
All outpatients and day cases have been cancelled at the hospital, which said it would contact affected families "as soon as we have further news". | All outpatients and day cases have been cancelled at the hospital, which said it would contact affected families "as soon as we have further news". |
Traffic was being directed around the site. | Traffic was being directed around the site. |
Cleaner Temitope Olowu, who was working in the hospital, said: "We were suddenly told there was a fire on our floor, level five so we were all ordered to the nearest fire exit. | Cleaner Temitope Olowu, who was working in the hospital, said: "We were suddenly told there was a fire on our floor, level five so we were all ordered to the nearest fire exit. |
"We didn't really know what was happening. Everyone was keeping calm and just concentrating on getting out of the building." | "We didn't really know what was happening. Everyone was keeping calm and just concentrating on getting out of the building." |