Somerset hospital evacuated as individuals hear ‘a lot of sirens’ and are instructed ‘keep away’
Emergency services were called to Weston General Hospital in Weston-super-Mare just after 5.30am on Thursday (March 5) as nearby wards were evacuated and people were urged to stay away
Weston General Hospital(Image: Google )
Hospital patients and staff were evacuated after a blaze erupted this morning (Thursday, March 5). Emergency services rushed to tackle a fire inside Weston General Hospital in Weston-super-Mare just after 5.30am, as patients and staff in neighbouring wards were moved to safety.
Witnesses reported “lots of sirens all morning” following a “fire in one of the wards” at the hospital. Another witness said: “Wards [have] been evacuated and all staff are outside still waiting instruction to go back in”.
It has been confirmed that no members of staff or patients were present in the area where the blaze started, reports Somerset Live.
Grange Road, which runs past the hospital, was shut, and the public were urged to stay away from the area whilst firefighters tackled the flames.
At the time of reporting, crews have put out the fire, which is thought to have begun accidentally. The scale of the fire damage remains unknown at this point.
Nobody is thought to have sustained any injuries during the incident. Fire crews remain on site to ventilate the building and check for hotspots.
The hospital’s A&E department is open and operational.
Patients whose appointments have been affected by the fire are being contacted by the hospital; anyone who hasn’t heard from the hospital has been advised to attend as usual.
A spokesperson for the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust stated: “This morning (Thursday 5 March) emergency services responded to a fire incident at Weston General Hospital.
“There were no patients or staff in the area affected by the fire, which has been safely extinguished. We temporarily evacuated nearby wards.
“Grange Road was also temporarily closed whilst emergency services attended. “Our Emergency Department is open and services are running.
“We are contacting a small number of patients directly whose appointments have been affected. If you do not hear from us, please attend as planned.
“Thank you to our colleagues and the emergency services for their quick response to this incident.”
Avon Fire and Rescue Service reported: “At 5:36am on 5 March, crews from Avon Fire and Rescue Service and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service were called to a fire on Grange Road, Uphill, Weston-Super-Mare. There were no people in the affected area and no casualties reported.
“Firefighters extinguished the fire using water jets. The police were also on scene supporting crews. The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental.
“Firefighters remained on the scene ventilating the building and checking for hotspots.
“Grange Road was temporarily closed while emergency services dealt with the incident and the public were asked to use alternative routes.
“Thank you to all staff and emergency service colleagues for their quick response to the incident.”
