Patients and staff are evacuated from hospital as fire breaks out at A&E department
- Aintree University Hospital was evacuated after a fire broke out on roof nearby
- Eight fire engines attended the incident and closed off access to the hospital
- Spokesman has now confirmed that the A&E department will be closed to public
Patients and staff were forced to evacuate from a hospital after a fire broke out in the A&E department this morning.
Aintree University Hospital’s accident and emergency department was evacuated after a fire broke out on the roof of a nearby building in Liverpool.
Eight fire engines and police cars attended the incident, closing off access to the hospital and putting a cordon in place.
Staff and patients were evacuated from the first two floors of the building, with people on beds spotted outside the front of the hospital.
A spokesman for the hospital has now confirmed that people must seek ‘alternative treatment’ for urgent and emergency care.
Aintree University Hospital’s accident and emergency department was evacuated after a fire broke out on the roof of a nearby building in Liverpool
Eight fire engines and police cars attended the incident, closing off access to the hospital and putting a cordon in place
They said: ‘Our A&E at Aintree is temporarily closed until further notice. Please seek alternative treatment for urgent and emergency care.
‘All outpatient appointments and planned surgery will continue as normal. Thank you for your support and patience.’
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre has reiterated that it is operating as normal today. A tweet from the centre’s account reads: ‘Services at CCC-Aintree & Marina Dalglish Centre at Aintree Hospital are operating as normal today.. Please attend your appointment as usual if you are due to come to us at Aintree today.’
Fire crews found that an electrical plant on the roof of the three-storey building, next to the A&E department, had caught fire.
Staff and patients were evacuated from the first two floors of the building, with people on beds spotted outside the front of the hospital
A spokesperson for Merseyside fire and rescue service said: ‘Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rapidly began to fight the fire to prevent escalation while liaising with staff to evacuate patients from the areas near to the fire.
‘Power has been isolated to the electrical unit and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are fighting the fire with high pressure hose reels and CO2 extinguishers. Patients have been evacuated from the first and second floors and there are no reports of any casualties.’
Later on in the morning, after crews had been on the scene for four hours, a spokesperson added: ‘There are now eight fire engines on scene. Fire crews are continuing to suppress the fire in a rooftop plant room wearing breathing apparatus and using CO2 extinguishers. Police cordons are in place around the area of the incident.’
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