Minor Fire Temporarily Closes Effingham Surgery Center

A minor fire caused a brief evacuation of patients and employees at the Effingham Ambulatory Surgery Center on Temple Avenue Thursday morning.

A fire in a pump that provides hot water to the facility tripped a fire alarm that automatically notified the Effingham Fire Department at 7:37am Thursday. Fire officials were able to quickly determine the cause of the fire, which was contained to the pump. 

Minor "nuisance" smoke, as Effingham Fire Chief Joe Holomy put it, was quickly removed from the building using fans on the upper level that housed the ventilation equipment for the surgery center. There was no fire damage to the building, and no injuries.

Chief Holomy said that the surgery center was to be commended for their quick response and action, telling us that all of the patients were immediately ready to be evacuated, and that they did, in his words, "a fantastic job" in their response.  The Chief said the Center had just conducted a fire drill one week ago.

The surgery center has reopened to patients, and resumed normal operations.