FIRE DESTROYS HOSPITAL

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25051, 6 December 1946, Page 6

FIRE DESTROYS HOSPITAL

—* — '2. HEAVY LOSS AT OPOTIKI PATIENTS EVACUATED SAFELY (P.A.) OPOTIKI. Decetnber 5. The main buildings at the Opotild Public Hospital were completely destroyed by fire in the early hours of this morning. The buildings were on Hospital Hill, about two miles ftota Opotiki, and, although a water main was laid recently near the hospital, there was no hydrant for fire fighting. The fire broke out in the detached domestic quarters, and for half an hour the Opotiki Volunteer Fire Brigade held it in check using hand pumps and buckets passed from hand to hand, in spite of this, the rear of the mail buildings caught fire. When it was seen that the main building was likely to catch fire, all the patients were immediately taken outside, and a large number of peqpte assisted the staff in clearing the buildings, including the main nurses’ hoine, of practically everything. The X-ray plant was dismantled and safely removed. The fire was the most spectacular seen in Opotiki for many yeama The average number of patients ■ in the hospital is a bout. 35, and as sooii.l as possible all were brought into Ow 1 tiki, where St. Mary’s Hall was tumMg into an emergency hospital. [ Lorries worked through the earm® hours bringing beds and other eqUflgjl ment into the borough. As threatened, everything was stored W | fore heavy rain fell after daybreak ! Insurances, which are held in th* State Insurance Office, amount about £7OOO. Plans were prdnared some time ag for a new 60-bed hospital and a nuts» home on a nearby site. The new mflJ ternitv home, which was ready to w occupied on Saturday, will used as an emergency hospital. TM isolation ward, which is some distance away, was never in any danger. ;