Part of the Saint John Regional Hospital had to be evacuated Wednesday afternoon following a report of a structure fire.
Platoon Chief Barry Oickle of the Saint John Fire Department says the call came in just after 4 p.m. and they were told to go to Level 2 in Tower D.
“Upon investigation, the fire crews determined that it was a light ballast that had overheated,” says Oickle. “The occupants of the room could smell a strange smell that smelled like an electrical fire. They touched the ceiling and the ceiling was quite warm.”
Fire crews now clearing the scene at the #SaintJohn Regional. PC Barry Oickle tells me an overheated light ballast in a lab admin office caused the alarm. No actual fire and no patients were evacuated. pic.twitter.com/1df8fe6T0b
— Brad Perry (@BradMPerry) May 30, 2018
A light ballast is part of the mechanism for turning the older-style fluorescent lights on and off, he says, and they can start to overheat through age and wear and tear.
Oickle says the immediate area was evacuated for a short time but no patients were affected.
Five fire trucks were called to the scene, as well as city police, but most left within the hour.
Traffic is still moving without any problem and people are still coming in and out of the hospital. Trucks are located by the staff entrance. pic.twitter.com/cRXnvPwYyP
— Brad Perry (@BradMPerry) May 30, 2018
