Evacuation and Emergency Response After Fire at Lehigh Valley Hospital

A significant fire incident occurred on Wednesday night at a structure connected to the Lehigh Valley Hospital in Pennsylvania. This emergency required a large-scale response and led to the evacuation of numerous patients. The fire, which was reported around 9:40 p.m., originated in the roof of the older Scranton Orthopedics building attached to the new hospital facility.

The Dickson City Fire Department, via a Facebook announcement, detailed the initial dispatch of first-alarm firefighting teams to the scene. Upon their arrival, Fire Chief Richard Chowanec assessed the situation and called in additional support, as it was confirmed the fire was contained to the roof area. Importantly, the main hospital itself was not directly aflame, although it did sustain smoke and water damage.

A coordinated effort among local police, hospital staff, and EMS crews ensured the safe and orderly evacuation of patients, aided by the Lackawanna County Emergency Management Agency and Pennsylvania State Police. Reports from WNEP-TV 16 indicated that 77 individuals were relocated to nearby facilities, fortunately without any reports of severe injuries.

The fire caused parts of the orthopedic unit to collapse; however, the diligent efforts of the response teams enabled the blaze to be controlled by approximately 11:15 p.m. The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Unit has been tasked with investigating the fire’s cause and origin.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro expressed gratitude for the rapid response by emergency personnel. In a message posted to X, he commended their bravery, stating, “Lori and I are praying for the staff, patients, their families, and the entire community tonight.”