Rouyn-Noranda Hospital services disrupted after overnight fire
93 patients were in hospital when evacuation began, no injuries reported
Several departments at Rouyn-Noranda Hospital, including the neonatal and pediatric units, remain inaccessible after a major fire forced an evacuation on Monday night.
Childbirth will not be possible at the hospital until further notice, according to the CISSS de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue.
Pregnant women may get assessed at Rouyn-Noranda but will be transferred to another hospital.
"It's worrisome because we have a high volume of deliveries in Rouyn-Noranda, so how long before we return to 100 per cent services?" asked Jean-Sébastien Blais, president of the FIQ-SISSAT, the Abitibi-Témiscamingue chapter of the Quebec health-care professionals' union.
The fire started around 10:15 p.m. on Monday in a cart on the second floor. An hour later, firefighters extinguished it, but many people were affected by the smoke, said Stéphane Royer, director of fire safety for the City of Rouyn-Noranda.
"There was a small cart used to transport medication. It's powered by a battery, an electrical source. Based on preliminary information, the probable cause of the fire is linked to that cart," Royer said.
He said the second floor was severely damaged, but he considers the building to be safe.
Sarah Charbonneau, assistant to the executive director for media relations at the CISSS de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue, said 93 patients were staying at the hospital on Monday night.
No injuries were reported. One firefighter suffered from a heatstroke.
The hospital requires cleaning and ventilation work before patients and staff can return.
Patients who were hospitalized were redirected to the local CLSC, the Youville pavilion facing the hospital and the Maison des aînés et alternative de Rouyn-Noranda.
Charbonneau said hospital staff will contact patients if there are cancellations to appointments since many services will be disrupted.
"Throughout the day, there are some services we will be able to confirm will be offered as usual: radiology, laboratories, and respiratory therapy," she said, noting that emergency surgeries are still scheduled.
She is asking people to only go to the hospital entrance if there is an emergency.
For all other cases, she asks that the public contact Info-Santé by calling 811.
Based on reporting by Radio-Canada's Jocelyn Corbeil and Annie-Claude Luneau