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Fair St. John’s Hospital roof-top fire extinguished
Officials at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital at 327 19th Beach Street in Far Rockaway said that the two-alarm roof-top fire that began before 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 was extinguished by FDNY roughly 90 minutes later.
“We had no fire related injuries and FDNY was able to swiftly evacuate patients and team members,” Renée Hastick-Motes, the hospital’s vice president of external affairs said in a statement. “It is not known, at this moment, how the fire got started but it was quickly contained and extinguished.”
From a video that was on the social media platform What’s App, the fire was burning along the St. John’s roof and dark black smoke was billowing from the top of the building. According to multiple media reports more than 100 fire and emergency medical personnel responded to the fire. Staff, including doctors, maintenance and nurses moved patients out of the 257-bed facility.
Hastick-Motes thanked Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York State Department of Health representatives, elected officials, FDNY, NYPD, the hospital’s union partners, New York City Emergency Management, Achiezer and other community stakeholders who contacted St. John’s and responded to the fire.
“As the only hospital on the Rockaway Peninsula we are committed to continuing to provide quality healthcare to the Rockaway community,” she stated. St. John’s also serves the Five Towns and surrounding communities.
Hospital staff and patients were said to be safe and family members can call St. John’s patient information line at (718) 869-7179.
