By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Gauteng Department of Health has confirmed that a fire was detected at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
The blaze broke out on Tuesday in the unused P2 parking bay.
The department said that the fire was contained and confined to a small section of the level 2 parking.
City of Joburg firefighters were dispatched to the scene and managed to contain the fire which was confined to a small section of the level two parking.
The Hillbrow SAPS also went on site after the matter was reported to them.
The department said the situation did not warrant for the evacuation of patients as the smoke from the fire was not high risk for inhalation and services are continuing as normal.
“The status quo is currently being closely monitored by the multidisciplinary team that is on-site to further assess the situation. The cause of the fire is under investigation.”
“The occurrence of this fire is concerning, especially since parts of the hospital caught fire in April last year, forcing it to close”, added the department.
This is the fourth fire at a Gauteng public hospital this year.
There was a fire at temporary structures of the Steve Biko Hospital on 30 May this year, and there was a blaze in a linen closet in a medical ward there on 12 June.
Two weeks ago, a fire occurred at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital near the Covid-19 tents, and it spread to the laundry site before being put out.
In the last 7 years there have been 9 fires in Gauteng hospitals, as well as the unexplained fire at the Gauteng Health head office which burnt down the Bank of Lisbon building and killed three fire fighters.