Millions to repair medical center fire damage; temporary appointment locations announced

Feb. 1 Update: The State Fire Marshal’s Office says it will take a couple of weeks before a cause is determined from the fire that badly damaged the Franklin Health Medical Arts Center. Seven Fire Marshal investigators and inspectors have been on the scene of the multi-million dollar fire, said Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety today. Investigators say the fire was accidental and started in the attic of the building, near the chimney, but the exact cause will await additional interviews, inspections and analysis.

FARMINGTON – It will take an estimated $6 to $9 million to repair the damage to the Franklin Health Medical Arts Center after fire broke out in the attic over the building’s east wing yesterday morning, a hospital administrator said today.

The cause of the fire at the building, which is adjacent to Franklin Memorial Hospital and connected by a corridor, has not been identified yet, although it has been determined it was not intentionally set. Investigators with the state’s Fire Marshal’s Office are expected to return to the site on Monday to continue their investigation.

The building, completed in June of 2008, is home to the Franklin Community Health Network’s pediatrics, women’s care, orthopaedics, general surgery, and urology medical practices, as well as the Martha B. Webber Breast Care Center.

From the first call to area fire departments at 5:57 a.m. to the final mop up by mid afternoon on Saturday, the hospital’s operations were not affected.

Although fire department crews were able to contain the fire to the attic area over the east wing of the building, that entire section of the building, which houses day surgery and urology offices on the top floor and pediatrics offices on the second floor, did sustain heavy heat, smoke and water damage.

The surgery/urology offices in particular, utilized highly technologically sophisticated medical equipment, in addition to the computers, is one of the reasons for the costly estimates for replacement, said Jerry Cayer, executive vice president for Franklin Community Health Network. The roof of the east wing will have to be completely rebuilt. It is unknown now when the east wing’s top two floors will reopen.

The west wing and lobby area at the center of the building are expected to be closed for at least one week as a professional cleanup crew, that has already moved in, begin their work. Overall, the building’s closure affects 22 medical providers and 117 additional staff.

Since the fire was discovered early yesterday, Cayer said hospital employees have been working nonstop to find solutions toward relocating services, cleanup, shifting security needs and plans for repair and safety inspections, as insurance adjusters sift though the damage to determine the exact cost.

“We’re very optimistic we can open the west wing and the lobby in a week,” Cayer said. The ground level of the east wing may be two to three weeks until it can be opened and possibly utilized as temporary space for offices remaining closed in the floors above.

Medical practices and mammography services beginning Monday will be relocated. A hotline has been established to inform patients of the procedures to follow if they have a scheduled appointment. The hotline number is 779-2163.

Patients with appointments this week should report to a temporary location for registration as follows:

Orthopaedics: Cardiopulmonary on the 1st floor of the hospital
Pediatrics: Wilton Family Practice
Surgery: Registration desk on the 2nd floor of the hospital
Urology: Registration desk on the 2nd floor of the hospital
Women’s Care: Registration desk on the 2nd floor of the hospital
Mammography: FMH Outpatient Services in Livermore Falls

Anyone with an appointment moved to the hospital are asked to come to the hospital’s main lobby where they will be directed where to go for their appointment.

All staff who normally work in the Medical Arts Center should report to the hospital lobby on Monday at their regular start time. In addition, they should park their vehicles where they normally do on Loop Road employee parking areas and can enter the hospital through the Medical Arts Center connecting corridor. No employees are to park in the lots in front of the hospital.

Cayer credits the responding fire departments with keeping the blaze from engulfing other parts of the building. In addition, he said, Farmington Fire Chief Terry Bell and his crews kept the hospital administrators informed throughout the difficult day, which helped to make clearer what their next step should be.

“They all, from Chief Bell on down, did an outstanding job,” Cayer said.