Transformer fire at Brockton Hospital forces patient transfers

What happened

A transformer fire broke out shortly before 8 a.m. in the basement of Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital in Brockton, Massachusetts. Fire officials later said there was severe damage to the main electrical room serving the hospital. The fire prompted a 10-alarm response involving 31 fire engines, seven ladder trucks and 77 ambulances. Electricity was shut off by National Grid. The fire was extinguished by 9:25 a.m., while evacuation continued into the afternoon.

In the end, 160 patients were transferred to other facilities, with no injuries or deaths reported. Power remained off through at least the following morning, and signs stated that the hospital was closed. Elective procedures were cancelled through at least 10 February. The cause is under investigation; the state fire marshal said there was no reason to believe the fire was anything but accidental.

Lessons learned

1. Large-scale patient evacuation from healthcare facilities requires pre-planned mutual aid agreements with multiple ambulance providers.
2. Rapid isolation of grid supply by the distribution operator is essential before firefighting proceeds in electrical rooms.
3. Hospitals should maintain clear procedures for extended loss of grid and generator power during emergencies.

Source

enterprisenews.com