LUMBERTON, N.C. (WBTW)- Fire crews responded to a fire around 7:15 Saturday morning at the Southeastern Health Gibson Cancer Center in Lumberton.
According to Lumberton Fire Department Chief Paul Ivey, the cause of the fire is undetermined at this time. Officials believe that damage from the fire is contained to GCC’s radiation oncology wing, which was an addition to the facility which opened in July 2014. The entire facility has experienced smoke and water damage and will close indefinitely.
No one was in the facility at the time and no one was injured.
Patients who are currently receiving treatment at the facility are being notified over the weekend about their plan of care, which will include transferring their care to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center’s cancer services division until GCC’s facility can be restored, according to Lori Dove, Vice President of Post-Acute Care Services for Southeastern Health.
As a precaution during the fire, 35 patients from WoodHaven Nursing, Alzheimer’s and Rehabilitation Center were evacuated to another wing of the facility, which neighbors GCC. The patients returned to their rooms at approximately 10 a.m. this morning.
“We are sincerely thankful for all of the first responders whose efforts have contained this fire to only one portion of our center,” said SeHealth President/CEO Joann Anderson. “The firefighters, EMS workers and others who responded have ensured that this devastating incident did not further damage neighboring buildings or the neighborhood around our facility. For that, we are grateful.”
GCC patients and their family members who have questions about their care may call an information hotline at (910) 671-5599.
