An electrical fault linked to medical equipment sparked a significant fire inside the intensive care unit at Fiona Stanley Hospital in Murdoch on Thursday morning, leaving three staff members and one patient being assessed for injuries, triggering a large-scale emergency response, and forcing the cancellation of surgeries and the closure of multiple hospital services.
How the Fiona Stanley Hospital ICU Fire Unfolded
A direct brigade alarm was triggered at 10.05am after a fault in an electrical point inside an ICU room ignited a blaze on level one of the hospital. Nine fire crews from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) arrived on the scene within four minutes of the alarm sounding, and the fire was contained to the room of origin by 10.24am.
DFES confirmed investigators identified an electrical fault as the cause, with it understood that powered medical equipment was connected to the ignition point. While the fire itself was extinguished quickly, damage from flames, smoke and water from activated sprinkler systems spread beyond the immediate room. DFES noted that the room where the fire started, along with the neighbouring room, sustained predominantly smoke damage. Fire investigation officers remained on-site following the incident to continue examining the cause.
Staff working in the affected area were evacuated, and a code yellow emergency alert was issued across the hospital, notifying personnel of a code red incident in the ICU. Ambulances were temporarily diverted away from the facility as part of the hospital's business continuity response.
Patients and Services Affected Across the Hospital
A spokesperson for the South Metropolitan Health Service confirmed the four individuals affected — three staff and one patient — were in a stable condition and receiving appropriate care and support.
Beyond the ICU, the fire's downstream impact was felt widely across the hospital's operations. Residual smoke and water damage led to the temporary closure of outpatient clinics, and a number of elective surgeries were cancelled. Non-urgent visitors were advised to avoid the hospital while recovery efforts were under way.
The Paediatric Emergency Department was placed on ambulance bypass as restoration work continued, with children presenting as walk-in patients temporarily redirected to be cared for alongside adults in the main Emergency Department. The health service said paediatric patients would remain in those temporary arrangements until it was safe to return to the dedicated facility.
The spokesperson confirmed that all outpatient clinics and elective surgeries were expected to resume on Friday, with remediation and recovery described as progressing well by Thursday afternoon.
Health Minister and Hospital Thank Emergency Responders
The fire drew attention in State Parliament, with Health Minister Meredith Hammat addressing the incident during question time on Thursday. While she noted the cause remained under active investigation, she used the opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of both hospital staff and emergency services personnel.
"I did want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the staff at Fiona Stanley, who are managing a very difficult situation, as well as all of the supporting emergency personnel and others for their swift action, ensuring that patient, staff, and visitor safety remains the priority at this difficult time," she said.
The hospital's spokesperson echoed that sentiment, thanking patients, families, staff and emergency services for their patience and cooperation throughout the disruption.
What Happens Next
DFES fire investigation officers continue to examine the scene to establish the precise sequence of events that led to the electrical fault igniting. The South Metropolitan Health Service said its well-developed business continuity plans had been enacted effectively, allowing services to steadily return to normal. The Paediatric Emergency Department remains the key outstanding area, with its timeline for reopening dependent on the progress of restoration work.
Fiona Stanley Hospital is one of Western Australia's largest public hospitals, and incidents of this scale at a major metropolitan health facility are rare. The swift containment of the fire within 19 minutes of the alarm was credited to the rapid deployment of emergency crews.
