Hospital Electrical Fire - Frenchs Forest
Published: 07 Feb 2022 02:56am
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have helped evacuate 30 patients during an overnight electrical fire at a hospital at Frenchs Forest on Sydney's northern beaches.
Just before 3am this morning, firefighters answered an Automatic Fire Alarm at the hospital in Frenchs Forest Road.
Six fire trucks arrived to find the electrical cupboard in the emergency ward alight.
The crews quickly got to work with CO2 extinguishers and used sprinklers to douse the blaze, caused by a lithium battery recharging unit.
They helped staff and police to move the patients, 10 of them bedridden, into safe wings of the hospital.
Part of the facility has suffered serious water damage.
Firefighters mopped up the scene, allowing hospital staff to resume operations.
Superintendent Adam Dewberry from Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) said this is a timely reminder that calling Triple Zero (000) for a fire emergency can be the difference between life and death, or a building or other property being saved or destroyed.
The Triple Zero (000) service is the quickest way to get the right resources from emergency services to help you. It should be used to contact Police, Fire or Ambulance services in life-threatening or time-critical situations.
Updated: 30 Jan 2023 09:14pm
Related safety topics
It's important that we all understand the risks of lithium-ion batteries and be prepared if things go wrong.
It“s the law to have at least one working smoke alarm installed on every level of your home.
If you do your bit to minimise the risks in your home, we can all stay safer together.
Details about this incident may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice.
For all life threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000)
For flood information, warnings or requests for non-life threatening assistance, call the SES on 132 500 or visit the NSW State Emergency Service website here. [external link].
For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link]
Stations nearby
8 Cook Street, Forestville NSW 2087
38 Fisher Road, Dee Why NSW 2099
53 Laurel Street, Willoughby NSW 2068