Man trapped in
smoke-filled elevator at Claiborne Co. Hospital
Middlesboro Daily News
October 4, 2006
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Local emergency officials answered a call Tuesday evening that a man was trapped inside a smoke-filled elevator at Claiborne County Hospital. The man, a hospital employee, was freed, treated in the hospital ER, and sent to Knoxville in stable condition. (Photo by Marisa Anders/Daily News) |
TAZEWELL, Tenn. - What could have been a major disaster was averted Tuesday evening when firefighters were able to rescue a man trapped in a smoke-filled elevator at Claiborne County Hospital.
A short time after 8 p.m., Claiborne County Hospital experienced the malfunctioning of an elevator transformer which required the evacuation of 41 patients due to heavy smoke, according to Linda Vanlandingham, RN, Director of Quality and Risk Management for Claiborne County Hospital and Nursing Home. “We got the call that there was a man trapped in the elevator,” said Barron Kennedy, Fire Chief for the Tazewell - New Tazewell Fire Department, adding that his department was on the scene in a matter of minutes.
Clarence Henard, a security guard at the hospital, was trapped in the elevator. Fire department members forced entry into the elevator after turning off the power to the malfunctioning motor that was apparently the cause of the heavy smoke.
“Upon release from the elevator the employee received treatment in the hospital's emergency room and was later transferred in stable condition to a Knoxville hospital to receive further medical work-up,” said Vanlandingham.
The fire department used their fans to get the smoke out of the building.
“The hospital employees did a fantastic job of evacuating the whole hospital,” said Kennedy.
The hospital was cleared by the Fire Chief to return all patients to their rooms at 8:55 p.m.
Also responding to the scene were the Springdale Volunteer Fire Department, Claiborne County Rescue Squad, Claiborne County EMS, Tazewell Police Department and New Tazewell Police Department. The South Claiborne Volunteer Fire Department was on standby at their headquarters in case they were needed.
“We are very pleased with the response of our troops and appreciate the assistance of everyone involved,” said Kennedy.
Marisa Anders is Managing Editor
for the Daily News. She can be reached via e-mail at
manders@middlesborodailynews.com.
Copyright © 2006. Middlesboro Daily News