A fire on Saturday, May 11th, reportedly caused by a streaker, led to significant water damage in the emergency and radiology departments at Haywood Regional Medical Center.
The Junaluska Fire Department arrived to find the fire had already been extinguished, but significant water damage had occurred due to activated sprinkler heads. An out-of-county individual picked up from Interstate 40, started a small fire in a hospital bathroom, triggering the sprinklers. He then moved to radiology, where another sprinkler head was activated. The individual, who had removed his clothes and ran through several floors, was arrested without further incident.
Firefighters assisted with water cleanup until 3 a.m. Although the fire itself was minor, the water damage is expected to result in a substantial insurance claim. Chris Brown, CEO of the medical center, confirmed no injuries and stated that the fire alarm and sprinkler systems functioned correctly. Significant water damage was noted in non-patient care areas, and a phased repair plan is underway, aiming to minimize the impact on emergency services.
Eight responders from the Junaluska Fire Department, along with personnel from Waynesville and Clyde fire departments and Haywood EMS, managed the emergency.
