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On Wednesday night, a blaze erupted in a structure connected to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Pennsylvania, triggering a swift response from emergency services and necessitating the evacuation of patients, according to official statements.
The Dickson City Fire Department shared on Facebook that they, along with other first-alarm responders, were called to the hospital complex at approximately 9:40 p.m.
Fire Chief Richard Chowanec, upon assessing the situation, called for additional support when it was discovered that the fire was located in the roof of the original Scranton Orthopedics building, which is linked to the newer Lehigh Valley Hospital facility.
Authorities confirmed that while the main hospital building remained free from active flames, it did suffer from smoke and water damage.
Firefighters were engaged in efforts to control the fire that ignited at Lehigh Valley Hospital on February 4, 2026. (Credit: Facebook/ Dickson City Fire Dept)
Police officers from across the Mid-Valley area, along with hospital staff and EMS crews, assisted in evacuating patients with support from the Lackawanna County Emergency Management Agency and Pennsylvania State Police.Â
WNEP-TV 16 reported that 77 patients were transferred from the hospital to local facilities and no major injuries were reported.
The local station said crews battled the blaze as parts of the orthopedics unit collapsed before the fire was ultimately contained around 11:15 p.m.
Crews worked to contain a fire that broke out at Lehigh Valley Hospital on Feb. 4, 2026. (Facebook/ Dickson City Fire Dept)
The Dickson City Fire Department said the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Unit will investigate the cause and origin of the fire.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks during a re-election campaign kickoff event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (Rachel Wisniewski/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro thanked first responders in a post on X for “running toward danger to help their fellow Pennsylvanians.”
“Lori and I are praying for the staff, patients, their families, and the entire community tonight,” he wrote.