ASHTON PETERS/FOR THE EXPRESS Local firefighters work on the scene of a reported structure fire at UPMC Lock Haven’s Emergency Room and Outpatient Center on Tuesday evening. The emergency room was closed overnight while the building was assessed and reopened on Wednesday morning.

ASHTON PETERS/FOR THE EXPRESS
Local firefighters work on the scene of a reported structure fire at UPMC Lock Haven’s Emergency Room and Outpatient Center on Tuesday evening. The emergency room was closed overnight while the building was assessed and reopened on Wednesday morning.

LOCK HAVEN — An electrical failure in a utility room at UPMC Lock Haven’s Outpatient Emergency Room led to the temporary closure of the facility Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning, according to fire department officials.

Lock Haven Fire Department Chief Tyler Wooding issued information about the fire Wednesday morning. He noted facilities attached to UPMC Lock Haven were requested to shelter-in-place as the fire posed little threat to them. No injuries were also reported.

The call went out at about 7:40 p.m. on May 26, with city crews responding to 24 Cree Drive for reports of a structure fire.

According to Wooding, units arrived on scene to find black smoke showing from a vent on the fourth floor.

“Crews began fire suppression operations while simultaneously evacuating patients and staff from the emergency department located below,” Wooding said in a release Wednesday.

Wooding’s release noted firefighters encountered the electrical fire in a utility room on the fourth floor and quickly suppressed it with a dry chemical agent.

“Due to the high voltage nature of the equipment, facility maintenance was contacted to disconnect the power to prevent any further incident,” he said.

With the location of the fire and an increased complexity to the incident, a second alarm was requested which brought additional fire crews from Dunnstown, Flemington, Castanea, Jersey Shore, Nittany Valley, Renovo and Beech Creek. Additional EMS units from Lock Haven EMS, Goodwill EMS and Jersey Shore EMS were also requested to assist in the evacuation and transport of patients.

A UPMC spokesperson previously confirmed that four patients receiving care at the time of the incident were safely discharged or transferred. All staff members were also reported safe.

Following evacuation and fire suppression, Wooding said the building was ventilated and fire crews cleared the scene at about 10 p.m.

Meanwhile, the emergency department remained closed until 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday while the building owner, Alliare Health Service, assessed the property.