The following message was sent from Dr. William J. Fulkerson Jr., executive vice president of the Duke University Health System, to Duke Medicine employees today concerning a fire that occurred in Durham Regional Hospital early Tuesday morning:
Early this morning a small fire, isolated to one patient room, occurred within Select Specialty Hospital, a separately licensed long-term acute care facility that leases space on the sixth floor of Durham Regional Hospital. The fire was quickly extinguished by staff and the sprinkler system was successfully activated.
One critically ill Select Specialty patient expired and the timing and cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner.
Due to water damage resulting from the sprinkler activation, Select Specialty Hospital patients were transferred to Durham Regional Hospital and continue to receive their care. Two Select Specialty Hospital employees, and one Duke employee, were evaluated for smoke inhalation and released from the Durham Regional Emergency Department.
There were no other injuries among employees or patients of Durham Regional or Select Specialty Hospitals.