Ward evacuated in hospital fire

Patients had to be evacuated from their beds after a discarded cigarette triggered a small fire outside a hospital in East Yorkshire.

Some 20 firefighters were called to the acute admissions ward at Hull Royal Infirmary at 1700 BST on Saturday, following reports of fire and smoke.

A fire spokesman said smoke from a smouldering cigarette butt had come in through the air conditioning system.

The fire had already gone out when crews arrived.

Crews and St John Ambulance volunteers helped evacuate 30 patients from the ward, which is in the A&E department, to another part of the hospital.

The Humberside Fire and Rescue spokesman said: "Somebody had been outside for a cigarette and thrown away the still smouldering butt.

"It landed in a gully close to the hospital wall and set light to rubbish and leaves.

"Wind blew the smoke from the very small fire into a duct and into the hospital air conditioning system, from where it was blown into the acute ward."

Arthur Douglas, deputy commissioner at St John Ambulance in Humberside, said four of his crews had helped move patients.

He said: "We were ready to set up mobile first aid posts and had crews from neighbouring counties on standby to offer assistance in case A&E closed, but fortunately these were not needed."

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Humberside Fire and Rescue Service
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