Monroe Hospital evacuated after air handler on roof catches fire

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Staff and patients were evacuated from the Monroe Hospital emergency room after an air handler on the roof caught fire and spewed smoke into the building.

Officals with the Monroe Fire Protection District said the fire broke out late Tuesday morning in the air handler while workers were repairing the units with a welder. The workers were able to knock down a majority of the fire before fire crews arrived on scene but smoke did get into the emergency room causing the evacuation.

Photographs shared online show hospital staff carrying out benches and chairs for ER patients to sit on outside.

Monroe fire officials confirmed no injuries were reported and all patients and employees were safely evacuated.

Some patients waiting for emergency care were transported to IU Health as a result of the evacuation or moved across the street to the hospital’s annex. Fire crews used a ladder to access the roof and successfully extinguished the fire. Some ceiling tiles received minor water damage.