Fire crews were called to the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven as a blaze gripped part of the site.
Portable buildings, near the main entrance at the site were on fire and emergency services were called just after 7pm yesterday, Saturday, February 4.
At least five fire engines, an aerial ladder platform and joint incident command unit attended the scene.
During the incident, the health trust which runs the site said there was no risk to patients and said people should continue attend if they need maternity or A&E services if they needed care.
The main hospital did not require evacuation.
The fire was extinguished at around 3am today. A fire engine and firefighters remained on the scene this morning.
A statement on social media this morning by the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust said: “The fire at the portable cabins adjacent to West Cumberland Hospital is now out and the fire service have left the site.
“The portable cabins are badly damaged but there is no further damage to the site and there has been no harm to patients or staff. Thank you to the Cumbria fire service for bringing the incident to a safe conclusion.”
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said: “Five fire engines from Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service with specialist appliances attended an incident on Homewood Road, Whitehaven.
“On arrival fire crews discovered a fire involving a three-storey commercial shipping container measuring approximately 50 metres by 10 metres. Crews used four breathing apparatus, two ladders, two thermal imaging cameras, three main jets and two hose reel jets to extinguish the fire.”
Cumbria police was called shortly after 7.50pm yesterday by Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, it confirmed today.
Officers attended and assisted with road closures around the hospital.
The fire was not believed to be major, but because of its proximity to the hospital, patient safety was the priority for Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.
Cumbria police reported that only Homewood Road was blocked both from Overend Road to Sneckyeat Road due to the fire, but Cumbria Crack, which is on the scene, said most roads were blocked around the hospital.
Road closures were lifted at 11pm.
A collision between Keekle and Copeland Swimming Pool also caused gridlock.
The fire was in three-storey portable buildings alongside the main hospital building. The buildings have been brought in as the hospital undergoes a multi-million-pound redevelopment.
It is not known who is using the portable buildings – it could be being used by site contractors or as offices.
A statement from the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, was issued on social media as firefighters were at the scene.
It said: “We are aware of an incident currently taking place at West Cumberland Hospital.
“There is a fire in the portable buildings adjacent to the development site. The incident is ongoing and the fire service are in attendance.
“The fire is away from the main hospital buildings and there is no risk to patients.
“The fire service ask that nobody attends the site whilst the fire is dealt with.
“Those needing urgent medical assistance or access to the maternity unit can access the site as normal.”
A bit of lightness in the seriousness of the evening – a Dominos Pizza delivery driver has pulled up at the hospital to deliver some food – and looks very confused by what he’s been confronted with.
