Fire Erupts at Kozhikode's Baby Memorial Hospital During Renovation
A significant fire broke out at the prestigious Baby Memorial Hospital in Kozhikode on Saturday morning, sending emergency services into action. The blaze ignited around 9:45 am in the hospital's C-block, specifically affecting the new wing of the healthcare facility.
Cause and Immediate Response
According to Regional Fire Officer T Rajesh, the fire originated from welding work being conducted during the installation of a new air conditioning chiller system. A spark from the welding operation fell onto thermocol material, quickly igniting a fire that spread through the ninth floor's AC systems.
Fire and rescue services mobilized seven fire tenders from three different stations - Vellimadukunnu, Beach, and Meenchantha. However, firefighters faced a unique challenge due to the fire's location at high altitude, making conventional fire engine operations impractical.
Innovative Firefighting Approach
Instead of relying on external water sources, fire officials utilized the hospital's internal fire hydrant system to combat the flames effectively. This strategic decision proved crucial in containing the blaze to the ninth floor area.
Hospital authorities implemented immediate traffic restrictions around the facility to ensure smooth access for emergency vehicles and facilitate uninterrupted rescue operations. The coordinated efforts brought the situation under control by 11:30 am, approximately two hours after the fire began.
Minimal Disruption to Hospital Operations
Hospital PRO Salil Shankar provided reassurance about the situation, stating that all hospital operations have fully resumed without significant disruption. He emphasized that the air conditioning parts were installed according to proper regulations and there is no cause for concern among patients or their families.
Fortunately, no patients were accommodated on the ninth floor where the fire occurred, with all patient care activities taking place on lower floors. This prevented any potential harm to patients and minimized the impact on critical healthcare services.
Fire officials confirmed that prompt action prevented the flames from spreading to other areas of the hospital, avoiding what could have been a much more serious incident at one of Kozhikode's leading healthcare institutions.
