Patients and medical staff were evacuated Friday morning after a fire broke out at Summa St. Thomas Hospital, according to Summa spokesperson Mike Bernstein.
The fire started around 6 a.m. in the building's basement.
Bernstein said because of smoke billowing through the hospital both patients and staff were evacuated.
There have been no reported injuries at this time, Bernstein said.
According to a hospital staff member, city buses were brought in to shelter the patients while crews contained the fire.
AFD: Can't say when patients/staff will be allowed back in. Asking people to avoid the area. @wews
— Sarah Phinney (@sarahphinneytv) October 13, 2017
Around 100 patients will be transported to other facilities, fire officials said.
Metro buses with patients leaving St. Thomas @wews pic.twitter.com/Wox6fKuuG5
— Sarah Phinney (@sarahphinneytv) October 13, 2017
Officials said the fire started in a storage room in the basement that held plastics.
The hospital fire was the second fire Akron crews responded to on Friday. Earlier in the morning, two children were taken to a local hospital in critical condition after a fire started in their home.
Hospital officials are requesting anyone who had an appointment at Summa St. Thomas Hospital to call their healthcare provider before coming to their appointment.
A patient hotline has been established for relatives to call to find out which hospital their family member was taken to. The number is 330-375-7702.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. The hospital will remain closed until further notice, hospital officials said.
