Fire in Fiona Stanley Hospital’s ICU injures four, prompts major emergency response as surgeries cancelled

Three medical staff and a patient are being assessed for injuries after a fire broke out in the intensive care unit at Fiona Stanley Hospital on Thursday, prompting a major emergency response as staff were evacuated, ambulances diverted and some surgeries cancelled.

Non-urgent visitors are being advised to avoid the hospital, with damage from the fire, smoke and water sprinklers forcing the closure of some areas including outpatient clinics.

The paediatric ED has also been closed, with paediatric patients temporarily sharing a facility with adult patients.

An investigation is underway into the fire, which started in a room in the ICU at 10.05am. Nine fire crews arrived within four minutes, and a Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said by 10.24am the fire had been contained to the room.

By 10.30am the fire was extinguished but the room was smoke logged, DFES said.

Staff in the area were evacuated and a code yellow emergency alert was issued, advising staff of a code red incident in the ICU on level one of the hospital in Murdoch.

It is understood some areas were damaged by water, smoke and fire. A spokesperson for the South Metropolitan Health Service said three staff members and a patient were “undergoing clinical assessment.”

“The hospital’s well-developed business continuity plans have been enacted. This includes cautionary but necessary actions including patient relocation from the ward where the fire commenced, short term ambulance diversions and disruption to some surgical and outpatient services,” the spokesperson said.

“Due to residual water damage and smoke impact some services will remain temporarily closed while remedial works are undertaken.”

“We apologise to our patients for any inconvenience.”

DFES fire investigation officers are now at the scene investigating the cause.

The South Metropolitan Health Service confirmed the incident took place on Thursday morning.