NEWS RELEASE
Immediate Release
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Smoke in Johnson City Specialty Hospital Leads to Evacuation of Newborns and Mothers
At approximately 11:40 p.m. on Wednesday night February 25th, the Johnson City Fire Department responded to a report of smoke in the nursery of Johnson City Specialty Hospital. The Specialty Hospital is a part of Mountain States Health Alliance and is located at 203 E Watauga Ave.
Units were dispatched to the hospital for a reported fire and smoke in the building. The call came from a manual pull-station alarm activation and calls from staff to Washington County 911.
Units were on-scene within two minutes of dispatch. There was no smoke visible on the exterior of the hospital. The hospital staff was in the process of evacuating the patients to the parking lot. Washington County / Johnson City EMS was dispatched initially with the Fire Department. Upon arrival, EMS Lt./Paramedic Dan Wheeley began to work with the hospital staff to establish a triage area for the evacuated patients. Additional ALS Ambulances were request to assist with the possible transfer of patients to another facility.
Fire crews made entry to the hospital to attempt to located the origin of the smoke. Upon entry to the nursery area, moderate smoke was found in the hallway and rooms. The smoke was not very active and appeared to not be coming from an active fire. Additional fire personnel were working to search the area to confirm all occupants were evacuated.
Firefighters were able to account for all patients and staff quickly with the assistance of security and nursing staff assistance. The hospital had 11 adult patients, including one in active labor, and eight newborns. All the adult patients and newborns were transferred to Johnson City Medical Center by Washington County EMS. The transfer was done strictly as a precaution and the cool temperatures outside. The transfers were conducted quickly and efficiently.
Fire crews continued to attempt to locate the source of the smoke. Crews worked in the basement as well as on the roof. The alarm activation had stopped all the HVAC units and air handlers. Crews were confident one of the units was the source of the smoke. Ventilation was established and begun to clear the smoke from the hospital.
Crews were finally able to confirm the smoke came from an HVAC unit in the basement of the hospital. MSHA Safety Personnel and Maintenance Personnel responded to the scene and were able to assist in locating the problem.
None of the 11 staff members were injured. No injures occurred to Fire or EMS personnel. The JCFD's Volunteer Chaplin responded to the scene with the Rehab Unit. This unit was used to provide shelter for the Hospital Staff unit the building could be cleared.
Three Engine Companies, a Manpower Unit, a Ladder Company, Fire Department Shift-Supervisor, and Rehab Unit responded to the call. There were approximately 18 fire personnel on the scene. Washington County EMS responded Five ALS Ambulances, a Rescue Unit, and EMS Shift-Supervisor to the scene. There were 12 EMS personnel involved in the call. Washington County EMA Director, Nes Levotch, also responded to the call.
At the time of this report MSHA officials were attempting to determine when patients would be allowed to return to the Specialty Hospital.
Please contact Captain Stanley Daniels (423)483-5828 or Lieutenant Jason Powell (423)483-5819 if you have any additional questions.
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