A patient allegedly started two fires in two separate rooms at Victoria General Hospital (VGH) in View Royal Tuesday, prompting nurses to jump into action to prevent major damage.
Multiple first responders including fire, police and paramedics were called to VGH around noon after reports of fires on the fourth floor of the hospital’s south tower.
While some patients in that area were moved to another part of the floor, officials say no one was injured and no surgeries were affected.
“So in this case, the crews were able to shelter some of the patients in place and some of the patients were…evacuated in different floors in different parts of the hospital,” said View Royal Fire Chief Paul Hurst.
He added it’s the first fire he’s known of at VGH in the 30 years he has worked as a firefighter in the area.
Multiple responders on scene after a patient sets two fires in two rooms on the 4th floor of the south tower at #VictoriaGeneralHospital. #ViewRoyal fire chief Paul Hurst says no patients injured, surgeries not affected. @CHEK_News pic.twitter.com/Gbq4b2rvcb
— Mary Griffin (@Mary_Griffin_) April 4, 2023
While Hurst said one fire appeared to be intentionally set, West Shore RCMP say upon investigation no criminal charges are expected in the VGH incident.
In a statement, Island Health credited the swift actions of VGH staff members to contain the fire until it was extinguished, adding it caused minimal damage.
The fourth-floor unit remains “fully operational” and the scene has been cleared by fire officials, the health authority added.
RELATED: Two maintenance workers injured after steam pipe burst at Victoria General Hospital
Jeff Lawrence
