Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital had a brief scare this morning
when smoke circulated near the main entrance due to a burned-out
air-conditioning unit, prompting relocation of patients before
firefighters solved the problem, said Ken Underwood, the hospital’s
CEO.
HOLLISTER
Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital had a brief scare this morning when smoke circulated near the main entrance due to a burned-out air-conditioning unit, prompting relocation of some patients before firefighters solved the problem, said Ken Underwood, the hospital’s CEO.
At about 8:30 a.m., smoke started circulating from duct work in the radiology unit. Hospital workers were concerned of fire for a brief time and moved 10 to 12 patients from their rooms “as a safety precaution,” Underwood said.
The hospital was closed to visitors for about 30 minutes, he said, while the radiology unit was set to open again by around 10:30 a.m. after being aired out. The radiology unit neighbors the main lobby, Underwood noted.
The hospital CEO stressed that “at no time were any patients compromised or in danger.”
“The staff did an excellent job implementing their safety precautions to relocate patients,” he said. “The fire department did an excellent job. Everything went as we drill.”
