A fire broke out in a ward at Weston General Hospital in Somerset early this morning, leading to the evacuation of patients and staff. Emergency services were called to the scene at around 5:30am on Thursday, March 5, after reports of a blaze in one of the wards.
Witnesses reported hearing 'lots of sirens all morning' as fire crews from Avon Fire and Rescue Service and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service attended the incident. Grange Road, which runs outside the hospital, was temporarily closed while firefighters dealt with the fire.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported, and it has been confirmed that no patients or staff were in the affected area. The fire has since been extinguished, and the cause is believed to be accidental. Fire crews remain on site to ventilate the building and check for hotspots.
The hospital's emergency department remains open and operational. Patients with appointments affected by the fire will be contacted directly by the hospital; those who have not heard from the hospital are advised to attend as planned.
A spokesperson for University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust thanked colleagues and emergency services for their quick response. Avon Fire and Rescue Service also confirmed that there were no casualties and that the fire was safely extinguished using water jets.
