Firefighters called to Memorial Hospital find smoke, no fire

Santa Rosa firefighters responded to a report of smoke at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital late Monday night and as fire and hospital officials developed a plan to move critically ill and injured patients, crews found there was no fire, just a busted belt in the air conditioning system, a Santa Rosa fire official said Tuesday.

The call to the city’s trauma center hospital came at 11:50 p.m. , initially listed as a fire alarm sounding. It was quickly upgraded to smoke near the intensive care unit, said Battalion Chief Mark Basque.

Some staff were being evacuated when firefighters arrived and a haze of smoke was found throughout the second floor, concentrated around the intensive care unit, Basque said.

Within a few minutes firefighters traced the problem to the air system and a burned-out belt. Light smoke from the mechanical failure eventually had spread throughout the floor.

No patients were impacted but Basque, Sonoma Life Support ambulance and hospital officials had begun planning how to move intensive care patients, he said.

“We are grateful that safety for all our patients was maintained, and for the cooperation and support of the people in our care, staff and doctors, and the Santa Rosa Fire Department and EMS crews. They responded quickly and remained on standby until the smoke was cleared and all necessary precautions had been taken,” said Katy Hillenmeyer, hospital spokeswoman.