Cambridge Memorial Hospital says it is in the process of doing a complete assessment of the work required to get the building ready for patient care after a small fire broke out in a rooftop mechanical room in the B Wing tower Tuesday afternoon.
The fire sent smoke down an elevator shaft into the wing, most of which is closed for renovation.
Water from the fire response also infiltrated some of the rooms, affecting 10 beds.
Patients were immediately moved from the wing into A and C wings, which were also infiltrated to a lesser degree by smoke.
Three inpatient floors in B Wing were closed for the renovation. It also houses diagnostic imaging, laboratory and clinical daycare.
Because of the smoke and water cleanup, endoscopies and surgeries are cancelled for Oct. 4, reads a statement from the hospital.
"Patients that are affected by this will be called to have their procedures rescheduled. If you have something else scheduled for Oct. 4 and have not been called, please make your appointment."
During a media scrum Tuesday evening, hospital president and CEO Patrick Gaskin commended staff and volunteers for their amazing work keeping patients and community safe during a "Code Green" vertical evacuation of the tower.
"They ensured at all times the patients and staff were safe and stood ready in case needed to do a more extensive evacuation," he said.
He also thanked firefighters for their quick response, regional partners hospitals across Waterloo Wellington, Ontario Health Teams and all who reached out and asked "how can we help?"
B Wing is one of four wings in the hospital and is largely unoccupied, he said.
Specifics about the fire and its cause are unknown at this time as it's under investigation by Cambridge Fire Department.
Stephanie Pearsall, vice president of clinical services at the hospital, said there were 180 patients in CMH at the time of the fire and a large number of intake and waiting patients in the emergency department.
She said the hospital is currently greater than 100 per cent of capacity, as are many of the hospitals in Waterloo Wellington, but surge plans were in play to accommodate any patients that needed to be moved.
Communication went out immediately to paramedics and regional partner hospitals to safely redirect patients until the all-clear was given around 5:30 this evening she said.
"Luckily we did not have to call on them in the extreme," Gaskin said.
Several members of staff waited for the all-clear to ensure patients were safely returned to their rooms.
"I truly cannot thank them enough for that. It truly does take a village," Pearsall said.
Environmental services staff are touring the hospital to determine what needs to happen to make for a safe return, she said.
"We're very hopeful we will be back to business Thursday, but we will make that call tomorrow.
We are gradually ramping up for regular operations," she added. Staff will meet again later this evening.
