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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Patients Flee London Cancer Hospital Fire

Up to $1 billion in damages after blaze guts leading facility

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(Newser) – A huge fire gutted one of the world's leading cancer hospitals yesterday, forcing up to 160 patients and 800 staff to evacuate and causing up to $1 billion in damages. London's Royal Marsden Hospital went up in flames after a small fire in a plant room spread through the building. Five operating theaters and two patients' wards have been greatly damaged, and the roof of the hospital has been destroyed.

Gordon Brown paid a visit this morning to a nearby hospital that is housing the patients, including six in intensive care. One pointed out that "there was no panic whatsoever," but several patients had to be laid on mattresses in the street during the evacuation. The Royal Marsden was the world's first hospital dedicated to oncology.

Emergency mattresses are carried to a local church where the patients have been moved to following a blaze at the Royal Marsden Hospital in central London Wednesday Jan. 2, 2008. Patients were evacuated from a historic hospital in west London after a fire broke out on the top floor of...
Emergency mattresses are carried to a local church where the patients have been moved to following a blaze at the Royal Marsden Hospital in central London Wednesday Jan. 2, 2008. Patients were evacuated...   (Associated Press)
Flames on the roof of at the Royal Marsden Hospital in central London, Wednesday Jan. 2, 2008. Patients were evacuated from the historic hospital in west London after a fire broke out on the top floor of the building, London's fire brigade said. (AP Photo/Stefan Rousseau, PA Wire)
Flames on the roof of at the Royal Marsden Hospital in central London, Wednesday Jan. 2, 2008. Patients were evacuated from the historic hospital in west London after a fire broke out on the top floor...   (Associated Press)
Patient is moved to safety following the blaze at the Royal Marsden Hospital in central London Wednesday Jan. 2, 2008. Patients were evacuated from a historic hospital in west London after a fire broke out on the top floor of the building, London's fire brigade said. (AP Photo/Andrew Parsons, PA...
Patient is moved to safety following the blaze at the Royal Marsden Hospital in central London Wednesday Jan. 2, 2008. Patients were evacuated from a historic hospital in west London after a fire broke...   (Associated Press)
A policewoman assists patients evacuated from the Royal Marsden Hospital in central London after a fire broke out Wednesday Jan. 2, 2008. Patients were evacuated from a historic hospital in west London after a fire broke out on the top floor of the building, London's fire brigade said. (AP Photo/Andrew...
A policewoman assists patients evacuated from the Royal Marsden Hospital in central London after a fire broke out Wednesday Jan. 2, 2008. Patients were evacuated from a historic hospital in west London...   (Associated Press)
Firemen work on the rooftop of London's Royal Marsden Hospital, Wednesday Jan. 2, 2008. A serious fire forced staff and patients at one of the world's leading cancer hospital to flee onto the streets, as scores of firefighters fought to control the blaze The London Fire Brigade said it was...
Firemen work on the rooftop of London's Royal Marsden Hospital, Wednesday Jan. 2, 2008. A serious fire forced staff and patients at one of the world's leading cancer hospital to flee onto the streets,...   (Associated Press)
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