Final update at 1.00pm Monday 23 October: Yesterday evening, the fire alarm within Doncaster Royal Infirmary’s South Block was triggered just before 7pm.
Following response and investigation by South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, this was found to be a false alarm. We believe that the issue was caused by smoke from a nearby (off-site) bonfire entering the building via a number of open windows – this triggered both a manual and automatic triggering of the fire alarm.
As a precaution, some patients were relocated to alternative accommodation within the hospital.
The building was deemed safe by 9pm, and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue departed the site.
We want to thank our colleagues for their dedication and professionalism shown throughout this incident.
We also want to share our thanks with affected patients, and we apologise for any inconvenience and distress this may have caused.
Statement at 9.15pm Sunday 23 October: Following our initial response to the fire alarm at Doncaster Royal Infirmary’s South Block, we can report that all preliminary investigations have been completed. While the cause of the alarm remains unclear, we can confirm that the building is safe.
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue is standing down from the scene, and further work will be undertaken to determine the root cause of the alarm.
We appreciate your patience throughout this process.
Statement at 8.40pm Sunday 23 October: South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue is currently on-site at Doncaster Royal Infirmary’s South Block in response to the activation of the building’s fire alarm. As of now, the cause remains unclear.
The team is diligently conducting thorough investigations and taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of all occupants.
As part of our safety measures, some patients are being temporarily relocated to facilitate this work. We understand the importance of this situation and are committed to resolving it as swiftly and safely as possible. Further updates will be provided as information becomes available.