Patient sparks fire at clinic, say police

A 60-year-old British woman was being treated in the psychiatric wing at Son Dureta hospital yesterday after having allegedly starting a fire at the Juaneda clinic, police said yesterday. Twenty patients were evacuated from the centre in the early hours of yesterday morning after a fire broke out on the third floor. The alarm was raised at 4am and according to Jaime Garcias, manager of the Clinica Juaneda, the fire was started in room 328 where the patient, the 60-year-old British woman, allegedly set fire to the mattress. A huge emergency operation swung into action immediately and all the patients on the third floor were evacuated as a precautionary measure. None were injured and only a handful of police officers needed treatment for the effects of smoke. Fire fighters eventually managed to drag the blazing mattress out onto the fire escape and extinguish the fire. The damage was contained to the British woman's room, which was badly damaged by the smoke and intense heat. Yesterday morning all the rooms on the third floor were inspected and some of the patients were transfered to other rooms until the smoke has cleared and their rooms have been aired and cleaned. Clinic boss Garcias praised the Local Police, 061 ambulance service, National Police and the fire brigade for their rapid and effective response to the emergency. “Their response was brilliant and the high level of co-operation from patients and hospital staff enabled the evacuation to be carried out quickly and efficiently with no injuries,” Jaime Garcías said later yesterday morning as the full extent of the damage became apparent in day light.