Hospital Rooms Evacuated for Plow Truck Fire

Pickup truck engine fire chars building exterior

Dozens of patients were evacuated from their rooms in a D.C. hospital after as a flaming plow truck charred the exterior of a building Friday afternoon.

The engine of a pickup truck with a plow clearing snow at Washington Hospital Center caught fire before 4:30 p.m., sending flames up several stories. The ambulance entrance to the hospital was closed for a short time while firefighters extinguished the flames.

Dozens of patients had to leave their rooms for an auditorium in the eight-story building, which houses the psychiatric ward and other facilities.

The fire extended to a garage door, D.C. fire department spokesman Pete Piringer said.

Hospital spokeswoman So Young Pak said 32 people from two units were moved but one unit has been returned already.

It's unclear how the truck caught on fire. No one was injured.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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