Facade of new Prague cancer centre at Motol-Homolka catches fire, patients evacuated

In Prague, a fire broke out on the facade of the new oncology centre building at Na Homolce Hospital, on Rentgenova Street. According to the Prague Fire and Rescue Service, crews used aerial platforms to fight the blaze, the building was evacuated, and a special evacuation bus was dispatched to the scene.

Fire service spokesman Miroslav Řezáč said firefighters managed to extinguish the open flames fairly quickly — by around 6:30 p.m. the visible fire had been put out. Rescuers then continued dismantling the metal facade cladding to locate and extinguish any hidden smouldering spots.

According to a source familiar with the situation at Motol and Homolka hospitals, the fire hit the recently opened oncology centre building specifically. The fire burned on the exterior of the facade and did not spread into the interior of the building.

Evacuation and casualties

Prague's Emergency Medical Service sent paramedic teams, a doctor, an inspector, as well as special "Phoenix" vehicles and evacuation transport to the scene. Around twenty people were evacuated, most of them oncology centre patients.

"These are not patients injured by the fire or affected by smoke inhalation," said Jana Poštová, spokeswoman for Prague's Emergency Medical Service. According to her, no one was injured as a result of the fire.

Patient's death and damage assessment

According to the Aktu.cz news agency, one patient at the oncology centre died that day. However, hospital spokeswoman Martina Dostálková stressed that the death was in no way connected to the fire. "His life was not endangered by the fire; his death was related to his diagnosis," she explained, adding that the man had died before the evacuation even began.

According to a hospital representative, the preliminary damage from the facade fire is estimated at around 30 million crowns.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. "Traffic in the area is restricted, and we will be investigating why the fire started," said police spokeswoman Eva Kropáčková.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz