Fire Forces ICU Evacuations at Boston Medical Center
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A fire at Boston Medical Center in Brighton forced more than two dozen patients to evacuate Wednesday.
The fire broke out in an electrical room and was contained by firefighters, but the hospital’s intensive care unit and emergency room were impacted. Twenty-four patients from the ICU had to evacuate, as well as two from the emergency room.
No one was injured in the fire, according to Boston Medical Center - Brighton President Paul Smith.
“All patients are safe here at the hospital,” Smith said.
Smith said the hospital canceled ambulance services and elective procedures Wednesday.
Boston Fire Chief Paul Burke said evacuations were still underway Wednesday morning, with firefighters, hospital staff and emergency responders helping patients down the stairs one at a time.
“Due to the power issue and the machines that those people are on, it’s a very labor-intensive issue,” Burke said. “We’re still conducting those operations as we speak.”
The entire hospital was running on power generators as of Wednesday morning. Smith said all medical equipment remained powered during the fire.
Due to the nature of the electrical fire and the equipment impacted, Burke said it could be weeks before the hospital is back to running at full capacity.
“That’s not a quick fix,” Burke said. “They’re going to be working on that for weeks to come.”
Burke said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
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