A fire at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Dickson City, Pennsylvania, forced the evacuation of 77 patients late Wednesday night after flames broke through the roof of an older, attached structure, officials said. Heavy fire conditions and hazards, including an active MRI machine, prompted firefighters to shift to a defensive exterior attack.

The fire was reported around 9:40 p.m., about 5 miles north of Scranton, prompting a large response from the Dickson City Fire Department and neighboring agencies. A fire chief on scene described a visible column of smoke and flames coming through the roof of the former Scranton Orthopedics section, which is separate from the main hospital building.

Hospital staff, assisted by police, safely evacuated all patients, with emergency medical services transporting them to other facilities. Crews initially stretched hose lines inside but withdrew due to heavy fire and hazards, transitioning to exterior operations with ladder trucks and large-diameter hose lines to prevent the fire from spreading to the emergency department and main hospital tower.

Officials confirmed the fire was contained to the roof of the older attached structure. While no active fire occurred inside the main hospital, smoke and water damage affected portions of the facility. Operations were ongoing into Thursday morning as investigators work to determine the cause.

No injuries were reported among patients, staff, or firefighters. The quick evacuation and defensive firefighting strategy limited damage to the hospital’s main operations, ensuring patient safety during the incident.