In an event that sent smoke plumes into the night sky, a fire erupted at the Lehigh Valley Hospital campus in Dickson City, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday evening, emergency officials reported. The incident necessitated prompt evacuation procedures involving more than 70 hospital patients and mobilized emergency medical teams from the surrounding region, drawn from within a 50-mile radius.
The blaze was first identified atop the roof structure of a former medical office building, previously known as Scranton Orthopedics, which is adjacent to the main hospital facility. According to fire authorities, the fire did not start inside the main hospital building itself, mitigating the potential for wider structural damage within the primary treatment areas.
Visual recordings captured by witnesses depicted thick smoke emerging near the hospital entrance, while firefighters equipped with ladders actively engaged in fire suppression efforts. Emergency personnel were observed transferring patients, some still on stretchers, into ambulances lined up for transport to other care centers.
Hospital representatives confirmed the institution remained closed the following day as inspections and damage evaluations were underway. Shellie Wass, a spokesperson for the hospital, stated that the facility’s operational status was suspended pending the ongoing assessment process.
Regional healthcare providers collaborated to accommodate the displaced patients. Geisinger Health System, in particular, received 13 evacuated individuals. The majority, totaling 12 patients, were taken to Geisinger Community Medical Center, with one patient admitted to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center. A spokesman for Geisinger, Richard Mattei, provided details on the transfers.
Medical status updates reported early on Thursday specified that among the patients transferred, five were in fair condition, three in good condition, and one in critical condition. Additionally, four patients had been discharged; however, no explicit correlation was made between these health statuses and the fire incident itself.
Fire Chief Richard Chowanec of the Dickson City department noted that the initial alarm was escalated upon their arrival to summon additional firefighting units and resources. Law enforcement agencies throughout the region assisted hospital and emergency teams by facilitating patient evacuation as firefighting operations commenced.
Governor Josh Shapiro acknowledged the response efforts via a social media platform, confirming state police, the emergency management agency, and the health department had been activated to respond to the incident. He expressed gratitude towards first responders and extended thoughts and prayers to the patients, hospital staff, their families, and the wider community affected by the fire.
United States Representative Rob Bresnahan Jr., representing the district containing Dickson City, also publicly commended the prompt and efficient actions of the emergency response teams in managing the situation.