No injuries reported following Steve Biko Academic Hospital fire

The Gauteng health department says the evacuated ICU patients following a fire at Steve Biko Academic Hospital early this morning will be moved back to their wards once the air sampling is concluded, the smoke odour is neutralised and the wards cleaned.

Tshwane fire fighters say 20 adult patients and one pediatric patient were evacuated and transferred to the ICUs in the other wards of the hospital. They say an Uninterrupted Power System that serve as a backup during a power failure caught alight causing a dense smoke.

Gauteng health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba, “We can confirm that the fire was confined to the UPS unit in the plant room. The hospital building was not affected. The GDoH-appointed contractor is already on site to assess the extent of the damage and carry out the necessary repair work after approval.”

City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department’s Lindsay Mnguni says no injuries were reported.

“Firefighters used three mechanical positive pressure ventilation units to eject smoke that was engulfing the ICU on the 6th floor where 20 adult patients and one paediatric patient were evacuated and transferred to ICUs in the other wards of the hospital. No injuries were reported at this incident,” she says.