Four patients moved, 'significant' water damage after fire at Wellington Hospital

Thursday, 14 January 2021

Fire crews were called to Wellington Hospital on Thursday morning. The sprinkler system was activated, containing the fire to a plant room but causing water damage on all eight levels. (File photo)

All eight levels of Wellington Hospital’s main building suffered significant water damage after sprinklers were trigged by a fire on Thursday morning.

Fire crews found a fire in a plant room after they were alerted by an alarm activation just after 2am.

Joy Farley, director of provider services for Capital & Coast District Health Board, said there was significant water damage across all levels of the hospital’s main building. No one was injured in the incident, but four patients had to be moved due to leaks.

She said a reduced number of the building’s lifts were working as a result of the incident but that had not affected the movement of patients.

All other aspects of the hospital’s services and operations were expected to carry on as usual.

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The cause of the fire was thought to be electrical, Farley said.

Fire and Emergency assistant area commander for Wellington Mike Dombroski said the fire had been contained to a switchboard on level 8 of the hospital’s main building by the sprinkler system, and was then extinguished by the first crew at the scene.

Fire crews stayed at the hospital until about 6am to prevent further water damage and to help with salvage.

Dombroski said 11 fire trucks and support vehicles were called to the scene.

A fire investigator was assessing the incident.