NYC Hospital Buildings Evacuated After Tunnel Fire

AP 5/18/09

A smoky electrical fire at a Manhattan hospital sent 18 people to the emergency room and forced the evacuation of hundreds of patients and staff.

It happened at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. Eighteen people were examined at the hospital emergency room and released after the Monday morning fire.

Fire officials say the blaze started at about 8:30 a.m. in an electrical panel in an underground tunnel and was under control about two hours later. Firefighters used fans to eject a large amount of smoke from the building.

About 300 people in an outpatient building and a support services building were evacuated during the fire.