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| Probe into cause of hospital fire | Probe into cause of hospital fire |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Investigators hope daylight will provide more evidence of how a fire which swept through London's Royal Marsden Hospital started. | |
| Operations had to be halted and patients and staff had to be led to safety as fire broke out at the leading cancer treatment centre. | |
| At its height, up to 125 firefighters were at the scene in Chelsea. | |
| Only four people needed treatment for the effects of smoke from the fire which started on the fourth floor. | Only four people needed treatment for the effects of smoke from the fire which started on the fourth floor. |
| It is understood investigations will centre on this area of the west London hospital where construction work was also taking place. | It is understood investigations will centre on this area of the west London hospital where construction work was also taking place. |
| It became apparent it was not a little fire, but they kept it quite calm Colin Bishop, patient | It became apparent it was not a little fire, but they kept it quite calm Colin Bishop, patient |
| David Brown, assistant commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, said: "A plant room has been involved in the fire but it is too early to say exactly where the fire started." | David Brown, assistant commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, said: "A plant room has been involved in the fire but it is too early to say exactly where the fire started." |
| Five operating theatres and two wards have been badly affected while much of the roof was destroyed by the fire which broke out shortly before 1330 GMT on Thursday. | Five operating theatres and two wards have been badly affected while much of the roof was destroyed by the fire which broke out shortly before 1330 GMT on Thursday. |
| About 800 staff and up to 160 patients and out-patients were moved to safety from the hospital. | About 800 staff and up to 160 patients and out-patients were moved to safety from the hospital. |
| This included two patients undergoing surgery at the time were safely taken off their anaesthetic and ventilators and moved to a neighbouring hospital. | This included two patients undergoing surgery at the time were safely taken off their anaesthetic and ventilators and moved to a neighbouring hospital. |
| More than 120 firefighters tackled the blaze | More than 120 firefighters tackled the blaze |
| Several patients had to be laid on mattresses in an ambulance area on Dovehouse Street while nursing staff led others away from the scene wrapped in blankets. | Several patients had to be laid on mattresses in an ambulance area on Dovehouse Street while nursing staff led others away from the scene wrapped in blankets. |
| A number were taken to St Paul's Church in Onslow Square or transferred to the Royal Brompton Hospital. | A number were taken to St Paul's Church in Onslow Square or transferred to the Royal Brompton Hospital. |
| One patient, Carole Williams, was in bed when the alarm sounded. | One patient, Carole Williams, was in bed when the alarm sounded. |
| "I could smell smoke, and we were told to get out." | "I could smell smoke, and we were told to get out." |
| The 55-year-old mother-of-four added that "there was no panic whatsoever". | The 55-year-old mother-of-four added that "there was no panic whatsoever". |
| 'Surreal' feeling | 'Surreal' feeling |
| Another patient, Colin Bishop, was waiting for his first session of chemotherapy treatment for throat cancer. | Another patient, Colin Bishop, was waiting for his first session of chemotherapy treatment for throat cancer. |
| "There was smoke and it was coming through the ward. It became apparent it was not a little fire, but they kept it quite calm," he said. | "There was smoke and it was coming through the ward. It became apparent it was not a little fire, but they kept it quite calm," he said. |
| Dr Aled Jones, a surgical doctor, was led out of the hospital in a break between operations. | Dr Aled Jones, a surgical doctor, was led out of the hospital in a break between operations. |
| "We did think it could have been a false alarm, but the message spread quickly around the hospital and we could smell the smoke," he said. | "We did think it could have been a false alarm, but the message spread quickly around the hospital and we could smell the smoke," he said. |
| "It was surreal. It didn't feel like it was really happening," he added. | "It was surreal. It didn't feel like it was really happening," he added. |
| The Royal Marsden was the first hospital in the world dedicated to cancer treatment and research, seeing more than 40,000 patients from the UK and abroad every year. | The Royal Marsden was the first hospital in the world dedicated to cancer treatment and research, seeing more than 40,000 patients from the UK and abroad every year. |