Updated on: February 5, 2026 / 2:13 AM EST / CBS Philadelphia
Crews battled a fire at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Dickson City, Pennsylvania, Wednesday night into early Thursday. Lackawanna County Emergency Management Agency Director Tom Taylor said 77 patients were evacuated to other area hospitals, including six ICU patients. One firefighter was taken to another hospital with chest pains.
Officials said the fire was contained to an outpatient orthopedic area. The Dickson City Fire Department said the blaze began on the roof of the original building, formerly Scranton Orthopedics, which is attached to the newer Lehigh Valley Hospital facility. Flames were visible as crews responded, according to CBS Scranton affiliate WYOU-TV.
Dickson City fire officials described the orthopedic unit as a total loss. There was no fire inside the main hospital building, but it sustained smoke and water damage. Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Health responded to the scene.
Gov. Josh Shapiro, on social media, thanked first responders and said he and his wife were praying for staff, patients, their families and the community. The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the blaze.
Dickson City is about six miles north of Scranton.
This photo provided by NEPA Fire Photography shows firefighters battling a blaze at the Lehigh Valley Hospital on Feb. 4, 2026 in Dickson City, Pa. NEPA Fire Photography via AP