Mount Sinai's main hospital suspends elective surgeries due to electrical fire
NEW YORK -- A fire broke out at Mount Sinai's main hospital overnight in East Harlem and forced many patients to reschedule surgeries.
The fire damaged the building's electrical supply, so only emergency surgeries were being performed Friday. Elective surgeries were postponed.
More than 100 personnel worked for three hours to put out the fire, which hospital officials say started in a generator room in the sub-basement around 12:30 a.m. They had to rush 20 patients to unaffected areas.
"Mount Sinai Health System confirmed today at approximately 12:30 am that a fire broke out in the generator room of the Annenberg Building at The Mount Sinai Hospital. Twenty patients were transported to unaffected areas of The Mount Sinai Hospital. No injuries were reported," the hospital said in a statement. "Mount Sinai Health System would like to express our sincerest gratitude to front line staff and FDNY first responders."
The FDNY confirmed six people were hurt, including two firefighters who had to be taken to different hospitals. The others, who appear to be Mount Sinai patients or staff, were treated at the scene.
The lasting effects of the fire impacted patients needing surgeries, MRIs and even urgent care throughout the day.
Some patients showed up and were surprised to find locked doors at the Express Care clinic, and upset at having to seek help at the more expensive and time-consuming emergency room a few doors down instead.
Andy Dipaul said he and his wife drove their 13-year-old son down from Orange County for an MRI, but they had to reschedule.
"It's a two-hour drive for us. We came down last night, spent a night in the hotel," Dipaul said. "It's a big issue for him. He has to go under general anesthesia, he can't eat the night before."
"Everything else, they send me texts and emails. But this, to cancel it, no. And I really need to get this done," said Jose Ruiz, of Chelsea.
Lynn Kutney, of Staten Island, needs an MRI on her back. She understands the circumstances are extreme, but said she's in pain.
"I'm annoyed. We had to come, we had to pay for parking, and I don't think we were in there for five minutes, and they weren't very pleasant," she said.
Mount Sinai said clinical service areas impacted by the fire returned to normal service around 6 p.m. Friday.
