SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Small fire causes some evacuations at Sanford.
After smoke was found at the Sanford USD Medical Center late Tuesday night, some labor and delivery patients were evacuated to the critical care unit.
Patients on the 3rd floor of that building were moved to another area on that floor while firefighters worked to ventilate the smoke that had drifted to the upper floors of the building. Once the smoke in the air had been cleared, patients were returned to their rooms.
There were no reports of any injuries to patients, hospital staff, or firefighters on the scene.
The smoke was caused by a small fire on a maintenance cart. It was put out by the sprinkler system in the building.
The complete release from SFFR is below:
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Sioux Falls Fire Rescue responded to a fire alarm activation at Sanford Hospital at 1305 W. 18th St at approximately 11:00pm Tuesday night. Metro Communications received reports of the fire alarms going off in different parts of the hospital. Once fire units arrived on scene, they were met by hospital security and maintenance personnel indicating there was a fire in a room near the Radiology Department. There was visible smoke in the hallways as firefighters approached that area of the hospital. Crews were able to find an equipment maintenance cart that had started on fire and was extinguished by one activated sprinkler head in that area.
Patients on the 3rd floor of that building were moved to another area on that floor while firefighters worked to ventilate the smoke that had drifted to the upper floors of the building. Once the smoke in the air had been cleared, patients were returned to their rooms. There were no reports of any injuries to patients, hospital staff, or firefighters on scene.
Sioux Falls Fire Rescue responded with six fire apparatus, twenty-six firefighters, and two support vehicles. Sioux Falls Fire Rescue would like to thank SFPD, Metro Communications and Sanford Health staff for assisting with this incident. Sioux Falls Fire Rescue would like to remind citizens to have a fire extinguisher in their homes and be aware not to overuse power strips.
