Smoke Causes Evacuation at NYC Hospital

(AP) NEW YORK

A smoky electrical fire at a Manhattan hospital forced the evacuation of several patients and staff in two buildings.

It happened at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. Officials say several people are being examined in the emergency room after the Monday morning fire.

They weren't immediately sure how many were hurt.

Fire officials say the blaze started at about 8:30 a.m. in an electrical panel in a tunnel under the hospital. Firefighters used fans to eject a large amount of smoke from the building.

An outpatient building and a support services building at the upper Manhattan hospital were evacuated. Hospital officials couldn't say how many patients and staff were there at the time.

The fire was under control about two hours after it began.

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