More than 70 patients were evacuated after a fire at a hospital in northeastern Pennsylvania required help from all available emergency medical services from miles away, authorities said.
Emergency crews have evacuated more than 70 patients and are battling the fire at a Pennsylvania hospitalNo one was injured in a fire Wednesday night at the Lehigh Valley Hospital location in Dickson City, about 100 miles north of Philadelphia. Officials reported smoke and water damage, but the full extent was unknown Thursday.
Bystander video showed smoke billowing over the entrance to the hospital as firefighters on ladders worked to contain the blaze. A video showed patients, some on gurneys, being loaded into a line of ambulances from across the region for transport to other hospitals.
The fire started in the roof of an older building formerly known as Scranton Orthopedics, not inside the attached main hospital building, fire officials said.
All available emergency medical services from within a 50-mile radius were used to transport more than 70 patients to other hospitals and care facilities, officials said.
Geisinger Hospitals received 13 of them, including 12 transferred to Geisinger Community Medical Center and one to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Geisinger spokesman Richard Mattei said.
As of Thursday morning, five patients are in good condition, three in good condition and one in critical condition. Four others were released, Geisinger said, although he did not specify whether the patients’ conditions were related to the fire.
Dickson City Fire Chief Richard Chowanek said the alarm was upgraded upon arrival to bring in additional resources. Police from throughout the area are helping hospital workers and emergency medical personnel evacuate patients while firefighters arrive.
Gov. Josh Shapiro said at X that state police, emergency management agencies and the Department of Health responded to the fire.
“Thank you to all the first responders who rushed to help their fellow Pennsylvanians,” Shapiro said. “Laurie and I are praying for the staff, patients, their families and the entire community tonight.”
US Republic. Rob Bresnahan Jr., whose district includes the city, also thanked first responders, calling their work quick and professional.
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