Fire at Duluth hospital prompts partial staff evacuation

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A fire caused St. Luke’s hospital to begin a partial staff evacuation and activate its emergency plan Monday morning.

The Duluth Fire Department responded to an automatic fire alarm at the hospital’s emergency department and urgent care entrance at 915 E. First St. at 9:37 a.m. Upon arrival, firefighters saw flames coming from an overhanging roof structure near the southwest entrance to the

hospital.

The alarm eventually was upgraded to a full-alarm response as fire companies worked to get to the hidden fire before it could get inside the building. The fire was stopped before getting inside the main building, but there was significant smoke inside the building, which prompted the partial evacuation while fire companies ventilated the building.

Patients waiting in the emergency department and urgent care area were moved to another area of the building while maintenance workers cleared the smoke, said Mary Greene, marketing specialist for the hospital. Workers still were clearing the smoke Monday afternoon, and that entrance was closed for the day.

No admitted patients had to be moved because of fire and smoke, Green said. According to Assistant Fire Chief Erik Simonson, a ceiling light fixture in the entryway started the fire.

There were no injuries reported, and damage estimates initially are set at $50,000. The Duluth Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating.

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