Fire extinguished at Salem Hospital building B following heavy smoke; cause unknown

Heavy smoke at Building B on the Salem Hospital campus forced patients on three floors to be moved to safe locations Thursday morning.

The two-alarm fire was reported just before 6:30 a.m. in the 600 block of Winter Street SE, according to dispatch records.

The emergency room remained open and other hospital functions continued as usual.

"We have essential personnel on site evaluating the full extent of the damage that was  caused from the primary incident and the subsequent water," said Brett Loomis, Deputy Chief of Operations at Salem Fire.

"We're working closely with building engineers and hospital staff to get them back into full operation as soon as possible."

Smoke originated in an elevator shaft on a lower floor and spread to upper floors.

"We have patients on three of the floors where there was smoke, no fire. All of those patients have been moved to a safe location," said Cheryl Wolfe, President of Salem Health.

Patients and staff were moved from the south end of the building, where the smoke was initially reported, to the north end.

Officials announced by 11:40 a.m. that units from Salem Fire and Salem Police had cleared the building and turned over the scene to hospital staff.

The fire was contained by the fire sprinkler system on the first floor, sending water down to a basement level as well, according to Loomis.

The cause is still under investigation. No injuries were reported.

Routine procedures were canceled until hospital officials understand the extent of the possible damage to the building.

Officials said patients will be notified by office staff to reschedule any canceled appointments.

Building B includes the Salem Health Heart and Vascular Center.

Winter Street was reopened by 11:30 a.m. after being closed in front of the hospital for staging of fire equipment.

More information will be posted when available.