FIRE IN AMHERST HOSPITAL

Amherst Fire Department responded to Amherst Hospital Saturday morning after an elevator blew a hydraulic line spilling fluid on a hot motor and starting a fire. The fire was quickly extinguished but the fluid poured through the basement halls.

Assistant Fire Chief Jim Wilhelm said that 150 gallons or more of hydraulic fluid spilled. “It run out all over the floor but we don’t believe it got in any of the drains yet that we know of. It did leak into the hallway and into a couple of maintenance rooms. We have put 27 bags of oil dry down so far and the Chief is contacting the clean up crew.”

Chief Wilhelm said that although a little smoke made its way to the third floor area through the elevator shaft, no patients were at risk and nobody had to be evacuated. Firefighters were using large fans to ventilate the area.