Fluorescent light blamed for hospital laundry fire

Fire investigators are blaming a faulty fluorescent light for a fire which gutted Southland Hospital's laundry building.

The fire last Tuesday took hold late at night and despite the best efforts of seven fire appliances and 40 firefighters, the building was destroyed.

Invercargill fire safety officer Mike Cahill told the Southland Times a scene examination had found it "highly likely" a fluorescent light fitting installed on the underside of a mezzanine floor was responsible.

"Every now and again we have problems with the capacitors in these fluorescent tubes."

Mr Cahill said sprinklers, if fitted, could have saved the building but they were not a requirement when it was built.

The building was occupied by laundry contractor Alsco.

Its chief executive, Tony Colenso, said the company's 60 Invercargill staff were off work on full pay until a decision on the future of the branch was made.

- NZPA