OhioHealth Berger Hospital in Circleville was completely evacuated after smoke was reported from an overheated pump in the basement, causing acrid smoke throughout the building.
Calls to 911 began just after 11 a.m. June 18, according to a Circleville police dispatcher. By 1 p.m. “all patients are accounted for and they are actively working on getting the smoke contained and making sure that everyone’s safe.”
A total of 55 patients were either transferred out of, or discharged from, the hospital, a follow up OhioHealth email stated. The timeline to return to normal operations is unknown.
The Circleville Fire Department is on site and working with hospital staff to determine the cause, according to a statement from OhioHealth.
“Patients at Berger are being transferred to area hospitals, Circleville High School, or, if appropriate, will be discharged home,” according to the statement.
“I did see patients on beds or gurneys under pop-up tents in front of the hospital on Pickaway Street,” said Tom Spring, a Circleville resident who lives and works nearby.
Berger is Pickaway County’s main hospital.
Several area departments, including Saltcreek-Tarlton Volunteer Fire Department, were called to assist in the evacuations.
dnarciso@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Circleville’s Berger Hospital evacuated after a reported fire
Reporting by Dean Narciso, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
