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Rooftop Fire Destroys Orthopedic Building at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Dickson City, Forcing Evacuation of 77 Patients

State investigators are probing the rooftop blaze that shut the facility for damage assessment.

Overview

  • The fire began around 9:40 p.m. on the roof of the attached former Scranton Orthopedics building and was contained to that structure.
  • All patients, visitors and staff were evacuated without reported injuries, with six ICU patients moved first and one firefighter treated for chest pains.
  • Fire crews brought the blaze under control by about 11:15 p.m., parts of the orthopedic unit collapsed, and officials deemed it a total loss.
  • A firewall helped prevent flames from entering the main hospital, which sustained smoke and water damage as power was cut during the response.
  • Regional hospitals accepted transfers, including at least 13 patients to Geisinger facilities, as the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal leads the cause-and-origin investigation.