Mothers-to-be and newborn babies were moved due to a fire incident at a maternity hospital in Bristol.
In the heart of Bristol on May 22, 2025, a fire erupted on the rooftop of St Michael's Hospital, situated on Southwell Street. The fire broke out around 4:30 PM, causing dark smoke to billow from the building.
Footage shared on social media depicted flames burning on the hospital's rooftop, causing concern and intrigue among onlookers. The fire authorities confirmed responding to the incident, advising the public to steer clear of the area while they extinguished the blaze.
Pregnant women and infants received instructions to evacuate due to the emergency situation, according to reports. The Avon Fire and Rescue service announced that the fire had been safely extinguished at approximately 5:25 PM, and the cause would be investigated later.
Avon and Somerset Police made their presence known at the scene in support of firefighters, urging people to avoid the area whenever possible. The authorities are yet to release details about the fire's cause.
Professor Stuart Walker, the hospital's managing director at the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, expressed gratitude to the hospital staff for their swift response in cooperation with the fire service in evacuating the hospital partially. He further revealed that the hospital, including the delivery suite, had resumed operations. Those with appointments scheduled for the following day were advised to attend as planned.
Additional information suggests that the fire may have originated from a solar panel installation on the rooftop. However, the exact cause remains unknown and is currently being investigated by the authorities.
The St Michael's Hospital, amidst its fight against the blaze, prioritized the evacuation of its women's health department and newborn infants, a decision prompted by the emergency situation. Post the fire incident, Professor Stuart Walker emphasized the smooth resumption of health-and-wellness services, particularly women's health, within the hospital premises, assuring that operations in the delivery suite had been restored.
