Chaos in St. Mary's Hospital of Hamburg: Deadly Arson - 3 Lives Lost in Hospital Fire - Arrest Made
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Elderly individuals, aged 84 to 87, perish in a tragic hospital blaze. - Elderly Patients, Aged 84 to 87, Pass Away in Hospital Inferno
In the early hours of the morning, chaos erupted at the St. Mary's Hospital in Hamburg as a fierce blaze tore through the building. Lorenz Hartmann, a firefighter spokesman, recounted the grim scene, stating, "At the windows, several desperate patients were pleading for help."
The fire ignited on the geriatric ward's ground floor, with flames shooting out of a shattered window and swiftly climbing up the hospital's facade to the floor above. The explosion also blew out the window on the floor above, followed by the spreading of smoke into the neurological ward.
Tragically, three elderly patients—men of 84, 85, and 87 years—did not survive the inferno. Another patient sustained severe injuries, and a total of 34 individuals were injured.
Braving Smoky Corridors for Rescue
The rescue effort was fraught with difficulty, as the elderly patients in wheelchairs were carried through the smoky hallways with the help of escape hoods. Those patients who managed to move were extracted via aerial ladders or portable ladders.
One survivor shared their experience with the "Hamburg Evening Post": "We were taken to the emergency room. Those who could walk had to shuffle along. The ones who couldn't were pushed. It all happened rather quickly and quite orderly."
Limited Visibility for First Responders
A police officer on the scene noted that due to the thick mixture of smoke and steam, firefighters experienced significantly reduced visibility in the hospital. The smoky corridors made it challenging to locate and save those trapped inside. Initially, some patients were left in their rooms, increasing the risk of smoke inhalation in the corridors.
The fire department was alerted at around 00:23 AM. In response, the first forces dispatched immediately requested reinforcements, resulting in four fire engines staffed with 160 firefighters being deployed. Other relief organizations accompanied the rescue efforts, totalling 220 personnel on site. The fire was extinguished after about 20 minutes, Hartmann reported.
Challenges in Rescuing Those in Need
Despite the fire originating on the ground floor, rescuers struggled to reach those seeking assistance from outside. A makeshift ditch in front of the building's basement necessitated firefighters wearing full protective gear to climb about 2.50 meters to reach the ground floor window. Evidently, the plastic windows suffered extensive damage, with the ones from the fire source and the one above completely melted.
A black streak, indicative of smoke, ran up to the hospital's top floor. Post-fire operation, rescue personnel could be seen using the searchlights to explore burned rooms, possibly conducting checks for any lingering toxic gases, according to the police.
State's Criminal Police Investigating the Fire Origins
As investigators from the state criminal police remained on the scene, they sought to uncover the cause of the fire. They approached the burned-out room in the morning, but thus far, they remain silent on the matter. The police are examining the scene, interviewing witnesses, and studying any available evidence, but no results or conclusions are expected to be shared today.
St. Mary's Hospital is a prominent healthcare facility in Hamburg's Hohenfelde district, boasting approximately 600 beds. Yearly, it treats around 93,000 patients. Most of the injured were transported to the hospital's central emergency room, with only two patients transferred to neighboring hospitals as reported by the fire department.
Update on the Arrest Made
In the aftermath of the fire's extinguishing and the rescue operation, some rescuers themselves required assistance. A crisis intervention team was established to support those affected, according to Hartmann.
Later on, it was revealed that a 72-year-old patient was taken into custody on suspicion of arson. The police expressed belief in his involvement, announcing that he was a primary suspect.
- The community is now discussing a potential revision of the community policy for health and safety measures, after the deadly arson at St. Mary's Hospital.
- The fire tragedy has prompted several calls for vocational training programs in fire safety and emergency response, particularly for health-care facilities.
- In light of the recent arson incident at St. Mary's Hospital, the local news is covering the growing concerns about crimes and accidents in aging healthcare institutions.
