A fire broke out at Sebokeng Hospital on Thursday afternoon, prompting the evacuation of more than 30 patients from the facility’s casualty department. According to the Gauteng Department of Health, the fire started in a psychiatry holding room within the casualty unit, where mental healthcare users are temporarily accommodated due to psychiatric wards operating at full capacity.
It is alleged that one of the patients ignited a blanket, resulting in smoke spreading across parts of the department. Emergency protocols were swiftly activated, with hospital staff and security personnel managing to contain the fire before it could spread further.
Swift Evacuation and Response
As a precautionary measure, more than 30 patients were safely evacuated from the area, including patients across various categories such as emergency cases, mental healthcare users, and obstetric patients. Hospital management has since begun relocating affected patients while ensuring uninterrupted medical care.
Hospital management and clinical teams are currently facilitating the transfer of affected patients to appropriate wards and ensuring continuity of care. The incident follows a similar fire at Paarl Hospital in the Western Cape last month, where a blaze broke out but was quickly brought under control.
Fire Prevention and Safety Measures
The Western Cape Government has allocated R67 million to rebuild Paarl Hospital after a fire, ensuring enhanced capacity and continued patient care for the Drakenstein community. The hospital management has also implemented fire prevention and safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
Some of the measures include:
- Regular fire drills and training for staff
- Installation of fire detection and suppression systems
- Conducting regular risk assessments and audits
The hospital management has also urged patients and visitors to report any suspicious activity or potential fire hazards to the authorities immediately.
