Hospital fires at two institutions in the past week were contained before any major damages were suffered, reports MedicalBrief.
There were no injuries in the fire that broke out at a “Wendy house” used for temporary storage at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, said the Gauteng Department of Health.
Although one corpse and 18 patients in “temporary structures close to where the fire broke out” a week ago had to be moved to other areas as a safety precaution, no staff or patients were injured, said department spokesperson Kwara Kekana.
The Wendy house was being used for COVID-19 medical waste and an in-transit corpse area, added Kekana.
The Citizen reports that the fire also affected a special temporary isolation unit and a tent used for triage (for persons under investigation). The cause of the blaze is unknown at this stage.
The second fire broke out at the Life Chatsmed Hospital in Durban on 5 June.
Life Healthcare regional manager Bhaviksha Maharaj said there were no casualties or injuries, as all evacuation and emergency protocols had been properly followed when the blaze started in the morning. Patients had been safely evacuated to sister hospitals in the area.
News 24 reports that the cause of the fire is still unknown and hospital engineers and local fire authorities are investigating.
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What really happened in the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital fire
Limpopo hospital fire leaves 2 patients dead
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Addington Hospital patients evacuated after fire breaks out