Northern Ireland

Patients and staff evacuated from part of Belfast City Hospital following fire report

The NI Fire and Rescue Service said they are working to determine the cause of a fire at Belfast City Hospital on Tuesday. Picture by Hugh Russell.
The NI Fire and Rescue Service said they are working to determine the cause of a fire at Belfast City Hospital on Tuesday. Picture by Hugh Russell. The NI Fire and Rescue Service said they are working to determine the cause of a fire at Belfast City Hospital on Tuesday. Picture by Hugh Russell.

STAFF and patients have been evacuated from Belfast City Hospital following reports of a fire.

A fire alarm was sounded at the south Belfast hospital complex shortly before 1pm, prompting staff and patients to be removed from areas within the facility .

A spokesperson for the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust said: "The areas impacted were Bridgewater Suite, located on C Floor and the outpatient department, Ground Floor, and Belfast City Hospital tower."

The trust said the affected areas were reopened in the late afternoon, and the spokesperson added: "Currently Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service are working with Trust staff at the scene to determine the cause of the alarm."

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said five appliances were called to the hospital from stations across the city.

A fire service spokesperson said: "Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two jets to extinguish the fire. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation and the incident was dealt with at 1.57pm."