By Yuvraj Tyagi
Copyright timesnownews
Glen Cove Hospital in Nassau County was forced to partially evacuate on Saturday morning after a fire broke out near its emergency department. The blaze, discovered just after 11 a.m., began in the roof area above the ER and quickly drew a major response from local firefighters. Crews from the Glen Cove Fire Department, supported by neighbouring departments, arrived within minutes. Witnesses said smoke could be seen rising above the roofline before the fire was brought under control. Firefighters managed to contain the flames in under an hour, preventing them from spreading into patient wards. Patients Diverted, ER Temporarily Shut Hospital administrators confirmed that at least seven patients were moved to other parts of the building as a precaution. Ambulances that would normally have gone to Glen Cove were redirected to Plainview Hospital, while walk-in patients were also asked to seek care there. No injuries were reported among patients, staff, or first responders. “Safety was our only priority,” a hospital representative said, adding that staff worked quickly to ensure care continued without interruption. By mid-afternoon, hospital officials said the ER would remain closed for at least eight hours while inspections and repairs continued. An X-ray room close to the fire site has also been shut down. Patients were advised to check with Northwell Health, which operates Glen Cove, for updates on when emergency services will resume. Cause Still Under Investigation Fire marshal teams remained on site into the evening, examining the damaged roof section to determine what triggered the blaze. “The investigation is ongoing, and the cause has not been established,” a county spokesperson said. Though operations at the main hospital continued, the closure of the ER created temporary strain on nearby facilities. Local residents arriving at the hospital later in the day described confusion as they were redirected to Plainview. Officials stressed that the incident caused disruption but not disaster. “We were fortunate this was contained quickly,” one firefighter told reporters outside the hospital. Full restoration of services is expected once safety checks are complete. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.
