Fire at Region hospital extinguished quickly, but could impact outpatient services

Fire at Region hospital extinguished quickly, but could impact outpatient services

MICHIGAN CITY — An early morning fire Wednesday at Franciscan Health Michigan City could lead to disruptions in outpatient services, but no patients in hospital rooms were impacted at the hospital at U.S. 421 and Interstate 94.

“We ask for patience and understanding as some outpatient appointments or procedures may be rescheduled or transferred to other Franciscan locations as we continue to assess the situation and clean up,” President and CEO Dean Mazzoni said in a statement.

Just after 5 a.m., Michigan City firefighters were first to arrive at the hospital, with members of the Coolspring Township Volunteer Fire Department assisting.

Coolspring Township Assistant Fire Chief Warren Smith said the fire was out in about 10 to 15 minutes with help from an automatic overhead sprinkler system.

Smith said a desk with a surface made of wood caught fire in an office on the fifth floor on the east side of the building.

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Mazzoni said that area of the hospital is an administrative area of the outpatient tower.

The flames spread to other furnishings in the office, including a metal filing cabinet and a chair.

Smith said extinguishers were used by firefighters to put out the flames, but not until water gushing from the sprinkler heads ran down to the fourth and third floors, where some of the ceiling tiles were sagging after absorbing water.

“Those sprinklers can put out a lot of water,” Smith said.

Mazzoni described the smoke and water damage to the outpatient tower as “significant,” though no structural damage was reported.

Smith said the cause of the fire is not yet known, but it could be electrical, since there were computers and other electronic devices on and near the desk.

Despite the hospital being outside the city limits in Coolspring Township, Smith said Michigan City firefighters also respond to calls from the hospital since they can get there quicker as a full-time, constantly manned department.

Smith said the faster response made a difference in containing the fire to the office.

“They’re probably there 15 minutes before we can get there,” he said.

Mazzoni said no patients were injured or evacuated as a result of the fire.

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