(La Porte County, IN) - There was a fire this morning at the hospital just outside Michigan City.
After 4 a.m., Michigan City firefighters were first to arrive at Franciscan Health in the area of U.S. 421 and Interstate 94.
Coolspring Township Volunteer firefighters assisted with the fire, which was put out in about 10 to 15 minutes with help from an automatic overhead sprinkler system, said Coolspring Township Assistant Fire Chief Warren Smith.
Smith said a desk with a surface made of wood caught fire in an office on the 5th floor on the east side of the building. The flames spread to other furnishings such as a metal filing cabinet and chair.
He said Michigan City firefighters used extinguishers to put out the flames but not until enough water from the sprinkler heads ran down to the fourth and third floors where some of the ceiling tiles from the moisture were sagging
“Those sprinklers can put out a lot of water,” he said.
Smith said there was also damage from the heavy smoke produced by the burning office furnishings.
No structure damage was reported.
Smith said the cause of the fire is not yet known but it could be electrical since there were computers and other electrical devices on and near the desk.
Despite the hospital being outside the city limits in Coolspring Township, Smith said Michigan City firefighters also respond to calls from the hospital since they can get there quicker from being a full-time, manned around the clock department.
Smith said the quicker response made a difference in limiting the damage.
“They’re probably there 15 minutes before we can get there,” he said.
Smith said no patients were harmed or impacted by the fire.
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