BLAZE PROBE (From Warrington Guardian)

BLAZE PROBE

AN investigation has been launched after an underground fire broke out at Warrington Hospital.

Smoke was spotted coming from the generator room at 11am last Friday morning.

The blaze caused power cuts to many departments and nine seriously ill patients from intensive care and the high dependency unit had to be transferred to other hospitals.

More than 40 patients were moved from the Appleton Wing to unaffected parts of the hospital.

Emergency generators were used to supply basic power needs but the accident and emergency department was closed to admissions.

Those in need of urgent treatment were diverted by ambulance to other hospitals in the area.

An alternative venue for non-urgent treatment was set up at Garven Place medical centre.

Fire officers are investigating the cause of the problem.

Roy Jones, mobile incident commander, said: "It looks like a fire in an electric cable in underground ducting between the hospital and a generator room."

Kathryn Holbourn, director of nursing and service development, said: "Patient safety was not compromised in any way and the staff coped magnificently, as did the fire service."

The hospital reopened fully on Saturday.