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Hundreds of patients have been evacuated from a hospital in Southampton after a blaze sparked a major incident – but the cause of the fire remains unknown.
More than 110 firefighters were called to University Hospital Southampton at 5.30am on Sunday and the blaze has now been contained.
Around 200 patients had to be evacuated to safe areas of the hospital, but nobody was injured in the fire.
Breathing apparatus, hose reel jets and an aerial ladder platform were used in the rescue operation and crews from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service remain by the west wing of the facility in a bid to dampen the remains down.
The inferno caused a ‘significant’ impact to a floor of the hospital, its chief medical officer confirmed.
Roads surrounding the building were closed by emergency services.
Visitors have been asked to stay away from the area and all planned outpatient appointments have been cancelled today.
The hospital is currently diverting people away unless their condition is deemed ‘life or limb-threatening’.
Fire engines at the scene of Southampton University Hospital where a blaze broke out at 5.30am
Police were also on scene as around 200 patients had to be evacuated as a result of the fire
Less serious cases have been urged to head to other facilities in the area.
‘We are asking anyone requiring medical attention to use other services in the community including the urgent treatment centre at RSH (Royal South Hants Hospital) or Lymington,’ the hospital added.
Parking has been made available on site for staff who are coming into work.
Paul Grundy, chief medical officer at Southampton General, said: ‘There’s been a fire in the west wing of the hospital in the endoscopy area.
‘The area did not have any patients in it at the time, but it is connected to ward areas – both on that same level and above and below it.
‘A significant area of the west wing has been evacuated – about 200 patients.
‘I was called very early this morning and told it was all hands on deck to deal with such a major incident.
‘We have all our medical teams, doctors, nurses and support staff helping to deal with those 200 patients that have been moved.
‘They are all being assessed based on their clinical needs.
‘Those who need a higher level of support have been moved to a part of the hospital where we are able to provide that.
‘Many of those 200 patients are still being nursed and cared for in the hospital corridors and main entrance while we find a more definitive solution.’
Ambulance service workers pictured at Southampton University Hospital
Larry Mackrell, group manager at Hampshire Fire and Rescue and incident commander for the operation at the hospital, said: ‘Around 5.30 this morning we got a call for an incident at Southampton General and we have deployed resources from across Hampshire to deal with this incident.
‘At its height we had around 110 firefighters here. I can confirm that the fire is now out and our crews are undertaking smoke clearance within the building.
‘We will have a present here at the hospital for the foreseeable future, but we are beginning to wind down our presence.
‘At this stage, we have no indication of what might have caused the fire but we will now be looking to carry out some fire investigation.
‘I can confirm that the fire stayed within the room of ignition but smoke has travelled throughout the floor so the impact of the fire has been significant.’
