A major incident has been declared and 200 patients have been evacuated after a fire broke out at University Hospital Southampton, causing significant damage.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service was called to Southampton General Hospital at 5.30am after flames were seen in the endoscopy unit.
More than 110 firefighters rushed to the scene, where they used breathing apparatus, hose reel jets and an aerial ladder platform (ALP) to battle the blaze.
Roughly 200 patients were evacuated to safety and roads around the hospital were closed. They are currently being cared for in corridors and other parts of the hospital.
In a statement posted on its website, the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust confirmed the fire has now been contained but has caused “significant damage” to part of the hospital. Nobody has been hurt.
The statement added: “We understand news of the fire and subsequent evacuation will cause anxiety for relatives keen to find out how their loved ones are where they are now situated within the hospital.
“We are working hard to utilise all available space and move patients into other wards and departments where possible.
“Our telephone lines are exceptionally busy and we would ask people to bear with us and refrain from calling unless urgent.”
All outpatient appointments have been cancelled and those requiring medical care are being urged to stay away unless conditions are “deemed life- or limb-threatening”.
Patients are being urged to use other services in the community, including the Urgent Treatment Centres at the Royal South Hants Hospital in Southampton or at Lymington New Forest Hospital, visit local pharmacies, or call and take advice from 111.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Larry Mackrell, group manager at Hampshire Fire and Rescue and incident commander for the operation at the hospital, told the Southern Daily Echo: “Around 5.30am this morning we got a call for an incident at Southampton General and we have deployed resources from across Hampshire to deal with this incident.
“At its height, we had around 110 firefighters here. I can confirm that the fire is now out and our crews are undertaking smoke clearance within the building.”
He said crews will remain at the site for the foreseeable future, but they are beginning to wind down their presence.
“At this stage, we have no indication of what might have caused the fire but we will now be looking to carry out some fire investigation,” he added.
“I can confirm that the fire stayed within the room of ignition, but smoke has travelled throughout the floor, so the impact of the fire has been significant.”
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