A press conference was held on April 19 in Beijing to report on the fire incident at Changfeng Hospital, which has resulted in 29 deaths as of 9 a.m. today. Among the deceased, 26 were inpatients, one was a nurse, one was a nursing assistant, and one was a patient's family member.
Li Zongrong, Deputy District Chief of Fengtai District, reported that at 12:57 p.m. on April 18th, the Fengtai District Fire Rescue Brigade received an alarm about a fire in the east wing of the inpatient department at Beijing Changfeng Hospital. Following the alarm, emergency services including fire, public security, health, and emergency departments rushed to the scene. A total of 29 ambulances were deployed for rescue operations, evacuating and transferring 71 individuals to nine nearby hospitals. The hospitals immediately opened green rescue channels, mobilizing frontline medical staff and equipment to fully engage in the treatment of the injured.
Beijing Changfeng Hospital, located at No. 291 Dianchang Road, Fengtai District, is a subsidiary of Beijing Changfeng Hospital Co., Ltd. The hospital, established in 1993, has a total construction area of 10,000 square meters and is a secondary comprehensive hospital, mainly treating vascular tumors and vascular malformations.
The hospital has 150 beds, 132 inpatients, and 318 medical staff. The fire occurred in the east wing, which has a construction area of 5,298 square meters and mainly treats critically ill patients. Currently, 78 patients remain in the hospital, all properly accommodated in the west wing of Changfeng Hospital.
Preliminary investigation results have been released, indicating that the fire was caused by sparks generated during interior renovation work in the inpatient department, which ignited volatile substances in flammable paint at the scene. The specific cause and losses of the accident are still under further investigation.
In response to this tragedy, authorities will focus on hospitals, nursing homes, high-rise buildings, and underground spaces to conduct thorough inspections and rectifications to ensure fire safety and protect people's lives and property.
Of the 71 injured patients transported, 39 are still undergoing treatment. In order to provide the best care for these patients, the Beijing Health Commission has assembled a skilled team to coordinate medical resources across the city.
An on-site medical treatment command center has been urgently established, and a team of municipal treatment experts has been formed, involving 633 medical staff and 32 ICU beds. National and municipal experts from various disciplines, such as critical care, respiratory, cardiology, and endocrinology, have been dispatched to the treating hospitals to develop personalized treatment plans and strive to save the lives of the injured.
As of 6 a.m. on April 19, of the 71 transferred patients, 39 remain in treatment, three have been discharged, and 29 have died. The conditions of the hospitalized patients are as follows: 3 critical, 18 severe, and 18 stable; 17 males and 22 females; 29 inpatients from Changfeng Hospital, 5 patient family members, 2 nursing assistants, and 3 medical staff.
