Small explosion, fire at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital after smoking patient incident

A man at the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital suffered severe burns after attempting to smoke while receiving oxygen.

The Saskatoon Fire Department responded to an emergency room fire inside the hospital on Sunday. According to a release by the fire department, a small explosion also occurred, igniting the blaze.

Prior to the arrival of fire crews, hospital staff began evacuating nearby patients to other areas of the hospital and terminated the oxygen supply in the affected area.

Upon arrival, firefighters learned that hospital security had partially extinguished the fire using an on-site fire extinguisher.

Fire crews completed extinguishment using additional fire extinguishers, while simultaneously searching for possible areas of extension.

A fire investigator has confirmed this fire to be accidental as a result of the man smoking— the man has severe burns to 25 per cent of his body.

There is about $1,000 in damages to the hospital.