Patients evacuated from The Canberra Hospital after fire

Close to 60 patients and staff have been evacuated from The Canberra Hospital overnight, after an electrical fire in the main reception.

Firefighters worked for more than five hours to extinguished the blaze, which broke out just after 5.30pm.

Thick smoke filled the several buildings with power disrupted across a number of wards.

“At this time, up to 60 people have been relocated as a precautionary measure from the staff and public residence building,” the ACT Emergency Services Agency said.

“Planning is being undertaken, should further relocation of staff and patients of the affected buildings be required.

“Safety of patients and staff remain our number one priority.”

All elective surgeries for today have been postponed.