Hidden Fire Hazard Sparks Emergency At Upstate New York Hospital

A burning odor in a Hudson Valley hospital set off alarms, but what fire crews discovered lurking near the basement could’ve ended very differently.

A tragedy was avoided at a hospital in the Hudson Valley.

Tragedy Avoided At HealthAlliance Hospital In Kingston, New York

The Kingston Fire Department was sent to HealthAlliance Hospital at 105 Mary's Avenue for a report of smoke in the hospital.

Arriving officers couldn't find visible smoke or a fire from the exterior.

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After entering the hospital, crews met with hospital staff and the Director of Safety, who reported a burning odor coming from the basement.

The fire department soon found a damaged lithium-ion battery in thermal runaway just outside the building near the basement, officials say.

"The battery had been damaged during building maintenance operations and was removed from the building prior to the 911 call being placed," the Kingston Fire Department stated in a press release.

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No Injuries Reported At Ulster County, New York Hospital

Fire personnel secured the battery using a CellBlockEX, a safety device designed to isolate and suppress hazardous battery incidents.

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"The building was ventilated and air quality was monitored. No hazardous readings were detected, and the facility was deemed safe for continued occupancy. No injuries were reported during the incident," the fire department states.

The battery was then given to hospital staff for proper handling. Officials say the cause of the battery malfunction was due to "improper use" during construction and was not due to an "unsafe battery."

See More: Upstate New York Home To World's Cleanest, Most Beautiful Lake

HealthAlliance Hospital recently received a "C" grade for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group. Other hospitals in the area received an "A" grade, while others received failing or near-failing grades. See more below.

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