A fire broke out at Phutholoha Hospital in the Free State on Tuesday. (Supplied/Ministry of Health)
Eleven patients were evacuated when a fire broke out at Phutholoha Hospital in Ficksburg, Free State on Tuesday.
According to Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson for public health for the province, the fire probably started in the isolation room, while one patient was inside.
“There were 11 patients in the hospital. They had to be evacuated to avoid smoke inhalation,” he said.
“Four female patients and three children are transferred to Clocolan’s JD Newberry, three male patients [will be relocated to] Ladybrand’s Senorita Nhlabathi Hospital and one male patient [to the] Regional Hospital Dihlabeng.”
Mvambi said all patients and staff are present and that no injuries were reported in the fire, which has now been extinguished.
He said the cause of the fire was being investigated.
“The Free State Department of Health would like to thank the quick response of the officers on duty who used the fire extinguishers at the hospital to put out the fire. Also many thanks to the municipal fire brigade and EMS [emergency medical services] who responded in a timely manner and ensured that the situation was brought under control.”
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