A fire and subsequent smoke prompted the evacuation of 16 newborns from a hospital in Łódź, Poland, on the night of May 5th.
Fire Department Response
The incident occurred between Monday and Tuesday night (May 5th). Fire services received a report of a fire before 10 PM, with 11 fire crews participating in the rescue operation. The operation concluded after 3 AM.
Source of the Smoke
The primary challenge was identifying the source of the dense smoke that appeared between the building’s floors. Sixteen newborns were moved from the second floor to lower levels, and no children were harmed.
Electrical Short Circuit Suspected
Initial findings suggest an electrical short circuit in the ventilation room likely caused the smoke. Specialized air quality measurements were taken every half hour, after which the newborns were returned to their ward.
Medical Staff and Patient Monitoring
Firefighters relocated 16 newborns to another ward, with 11 remaining under observation as their area was unaffected by the smoke. Two medical staff members reported dizziness and were examined on-site by a doctor, according to Captain Łukasz Górczyński of the Łódź fire department.
