St Michael's Hospital blaze 'started in solar panels'

Sarah Turnnidge and Harriet Robinson

BBC News, Bristol

The maternity unit was evacuated after the fire broke out on Thursday afternoon

William Campbell, a hospital roof, showing flames and large black smoke feathers. There are many other buildings and trees nearby. — The maternity unit was evacuated after the fire broke out on Thursday afternoon

A fire that forced the evacuation of pregnant women and babies from a maternity hospital in solar panels on the ceiling, firefighters confirmed.

The emergency services rushed to the St Michael de Bristol hospital shortly before 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, with flames and large visible smoke feathers throughout the city.

Despite the dramatic appearance of the fire, no injuries were reported and the hospital was able to succeed at 19:00.

Hospital officials confirmed that, although most of the services at ST Michael’s operated on Friday, some appointments had to be reprogrammed.

On Thursday an investigation was opened on the cause of the fire, with the Fire Service and Rescue of Avon confirming on Friday that originated in the solar panels.

The team established that the “cause of the fire is accidental due to a fault in the solar panels,” said a service spokesman.

“Firefighters for sure the fire on the roof and no other part of the hospital was affected by the fire,” they added.

Patients affected by canceled appointments have been directly contacted

Marina Ribeiro Kaufmanner stood in front of the flames on the roof of the building. Black smoke feathers are climbing behind orange flames. — Patients affected by canceled appointments have been directly contacted

Professor Stuart Walker, managing director of the Hospital, said a “very small number of planned appointments” had been reprogrammed.

“Those affected by this have been directly contacted. If you have an appointment, I attend news of us.

“The hospital remains open to those who need access to our services, including delivery suite,” he said.

“Thanks to our incredible colleagues, emergency services and local partners for their efforts yesterday to help keep our patients and their loved ones safe.”

The midwives were seen helping future woods outside the hospital

The medical staff was close to the Cordon Police with firefighters at the bottom. — The midwives were seen helping future woods outside the hospital

Future mothers and babies were transferred outside the building, with the support of midwives who took milk and fruit. The fire was extinguished in an hour and the hospital reopened at 7:00 p.m. BST.

Jess Hutchinson, 22, whose waters had broken, told the BBC at that time that he was “scary” when he heard the fire on the roof.

Zainab Badaki, who is pregnant 32 weeks, added: “It was very scary, because it was dark everywhere, the smoke was all over the place. It was really a bit scary.”