A fire at Powell River General Hospital on August 31 was started by a patient, according to Powell River Fire Rescue.
Deputy chief Rocky Swanson, who served as the incident commander, said the fire was called in around 6:30 pm and was reported to be in the emergency room area.
“What happened was North Island dispatch called us and said there was a confirmed fire in the emergency room area of the hospital, so we dispatched all five of our rigs,” said Swanson. “Once we got there, the hospital staff had attacked the fire with a dry chemical extinguisher and knocked it out.
“It was a small fire but it was extremely dangerous because there were compressed oxygen cylinders. The fire was deliberately set. An individual decided to turn on the oxygen tank and was lit on fire and needed emergency medical help. I understand it was a patient that did this.”
He said there was minor damage to the hospital.
“There was some burning on the floor and they will have to replace the floor,” said Swanson. “There was some equipment wrecked but no real structural damage. It’s a contents fire rather than a structure fire.
“All of the patients were evacuated from the space immediately because it filled full of smoke. The hospital staff were heroes. They got people out of that room immediately. Had they not done that, there was potential for other casualties. There were some staff members that were really shaken up.”
Swanson said Powell River RCMP were on scene at his request because he said it’s an arson case and police have to investigate.
“Just to be clear for the public, any time a fire is deliberately set, for the purposes of destroying property or causing injury or harm or fear, that’s arson,” said Swanson. “Obviously, this was damaging public property and put lives in danger so it’s extremely serious.”
Swanson said compressed oxygen is very volatile but the situation was under control quickly and was handled well.
There were 15 firefighters on scene at the fire and four to five RCMP members. Swanson said there were no injuries to firefighters or police, and as far as he knows, no physical injuries to healthcare staff.
