Published: 12:27 PM, 03 February 2026
Fire breaks out in Southampton General Hospital in England
A major incident has been declared at a hospital following a fire, reports BBC.
Southampton General Hospital said the blaze, which has been contained, broke out at 05:30 GMT.
The hospital said nobody had been injured and patients in all affected areas had been evacuated to safe areas of the site.
Speaking to the Echo Paul Grundy, chief medical officer at Southampton General Hospital, said: "There's been a fire in the west wing of the hospital in the endoscopy area.
Visitors are being asked to stay away and all planned outpatient appointments on Sunday have been cancelled. The hospital said its emergency department was currently diverting patients away unless their condition was life or limb-threatening.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) said at its peak, more than 110 firefighters attended the blaze.
At about 10:00, it said the fire was under control but crews remained on scene to "dampen down".
A BBC reporter at the scene, Briony Leyland, said the fire had been in the west wing of the building, according to the hospital.
"Patients have been moved to safe areas, including the main entrance lobby of the hospital," she said.
"I could see a number of patients in their beds inside that area as I was taken through the site.
"It was quite an extraordinary sight to see patients in a place which is usually busy with members of the public." At 11:00, Leyland said several fire engines and an incident response unit were still present outside the Coxford Road entrance.
"The smell of smoke is hanging in the air," she said, adding that there were still no details of how the fire started. Emergency services have closed surrounding roads.
The hospital is asking anyone requiring medical attention to use other services in the community including urgent treatment centres at the Royal South Hants Hospital in Southampton, or at Lymington New Forest Hospital.
