Paarl Hospital fire caused by electric car

AN ELECTRIC car has been determined as the cause behind the fire at Paarl Hospital.

Drakenstein Municipality’s Fire and Rescue Services said it responded to a fire at the Paarl Hospital, which was reported at 11.17am on Tuesday, 27 January.

By 12pm, firefighters had successfully contained the blaze to the Day Hospital section of the provincial hospital.

The municipality added that all occupants of the ground, first, and second floors of the hospital were safely evacuated.

A statement said: "The Municipality’s Fire and Rescue teams, together with our traffic and law enforcement officers and the South African Police Service, remain on scene to secure the area and support ongoing operations."

Councillor Stephen Korabie, Executive Mayor of Drakenstein Municipality, reported from the scene that the blaze had successfully been contained and that the cause was an electric vehicle.

Korabie said: "I am at the scene of the Paarl Hospital in the Cape Winelands and it caught alight this morning.

"The cause of the fire is an electrical car which is standing on the premises.

"It has been contained. and the rest of the building is safe as it impacted only one section.

"What we want to ensure is that the fire does not spread.

"The firefighters are on scene to make this does not happen.

"I want to reassure the community we have no deaths or injuries, the police is here and the fire department and ambulance services and a mass of doctors and traffic services.

"I am asking the public not to come to hospital."

He said there were more than a 1 000 patients who were needing assistance and are in safe hands.

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness confirmed that patients were evacuated as a precaution and were moved safely and that no injuries were reported.

Officials said an assessment is now underway to determine the full extent of the damage. 

Hospital operations in the rest of the facility continued while authorities secured the scene and began evaluating what repairs may be needed.

Further updates are expected once the assessment has been completed.