Fire crews and police were on-scene at the Listowel Memorial Hospital for a reported fire.
Perth County OPP shut down Elizabeth Street East from Wallace Avenue to Davidson Avenue, and between Queen Street East and Elizabeth Street East. The OPP confirmed just before 5:20 p.m. on May 28 that the closure was cleared.
Police on-scene did confirm that everyone in the hospital did get out safely.
The Listowel Wingham Hospital Alliance has now confirmed that all appointments for May 28 are cancelled and will be rescheduled. The emergency department was temporarily closed, but as of 6 p.m. is now open and fully operational.
As a result of smoke damage on both the 1st and 2nd floor inpatient units, hospital inpatients are being transferred to seven neighbouring, regional hospitals.
The LWHA also stated that "Non-urgent patients are advised to seek care at other hospitals. Operating room procedures have been cancelled for Tuesday through Thursday this week. Patients will receive a call to re-book. Ambulatory Care and Diagnostic Imaging will be open as normal on Wednesday May 29."
Air quality testing and restoration work is underway, but the LWHA states that they will not have access to inpatient beds for "several weeks."
A release from the Municipality of North Perth shared that crews were called out at 9:28 a.m., and all three North Perth stations (Listowel, Monkton, Atwood) responded to the scene.
According to the release, the fire was "contained to the room of origin, located in the north wing of the second floor, which is currently undergoing construction. There were no injuries as a result of this incident."
More details as they are made available.