Evacuations were ordered a small fire at Bayhealth Milford Memorial Hospital on Saturday morning.
At 5:25 a.m., an alarm was activated and patients were evacuated from the hospital’s Intermediate Care, Medical-Surgical and Obstetric units, Bayhealth reported.
No patients suffered injuries, but several Bayhealth staff members were evaluated for smoke inhalation. No patients were taken to neighboring hospitals.
Bayhealth CEO Terry Murphy stated, “We are deeply grateful for staff and first responders who followed established protocols to keep patients safe. We’d like to extend our thanks to our first responders from Sussex and Kent County EMS along with Carlisle, Houston, Harrington, Bowers Beach, Frederica and Ellendale fire departments.”
The fire was quickly extinguished by Bayhealth staff, according to Mike Ashton, Bayhealth Vice president of operations and Milford Memorial administrator. While the fire remains under investigation, Ashton says it seems to have stemmed from a small heating-cooling unit on a nursing floor.
Two inpatient units will remain closed while they are reconditioned for patient use. Most patients have been returned to their original units. The hospital has resumed normal operations.
Patient families can call 302-422-3311.
Construction is under way on a new quarter of a billion dollar health care campus that will replace the hospital.
