The fire broke out on Wednesday night at the Lehigh Valley Hospital campus in Dickson City, a city in northeastern Pennsylvania, and led to emergency crews rushing in from across the region, authorities said. Emergency medical services within a 50-mile (80-kilometer) radius were called in to help evacuate patients, and hospital officials said the campus remained closed Thursday while damage was assessed.
Fire officials said the alarm was upgraded upon arrival to bring additional resources, and police from throughout the area helped staff and emergency medical crews evacuate patients when firefighters arrived, according to a fire department account. In bystander video, smoke could be seen rising above the hospital’s entrance as ladders crews worked to contain the blaze.
Authorities said no injuries were reported from the fire as of Wednesday night. The fire started on the roof of an older medical office building formerly known as Scranton Orthopedics, and officials said it did not begin inside the attached main hospital building.
Hospital spokesperson Shellie Wass said the facility remained closed Thursday while crews assessed damage, and Geisinger spokesperson Richard Mattei said more than 70 hospital patients were evacuated to other area hospitals. Mattei said Geisinger hospitals received 13 of those patients.
Of the patients sent to Geisinger hospitals, Mattei said 12 were transported to Geisinger Community Medical Center and one was transported to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center. As of Thursday morning, Geisinger said five patients were listed in fair condition, three were in good condition and one was in critical condition, and the other four had been released, though Geisinger did not specify whether the patients’ conditions were related to the fire.
Dickson City Fire Chief Richard Chowanec also described the response, saying the alarm was upgraded and that police assistance supported the evacuation as firefighters arrived. Gov. Josh Shapiro posted on X that state police, the emergency management agency and the health department responded to the fire.
Shapiro said in his post: “Thank you to every first responder running toward danger to help their fellow Pennsylvanians,” and he added that “Lori and I are praying for the staff, patients, their families, and the entire community tonight.” U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr., whose district includes the city, also thanked first responders, calling their actions swift and professional.