Paarl Hospital fire: 35-year-old man arrested for arson

A 35-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a fire that damaged part of Paarl Hospital on Tuesday, January 27, which led to a full evacuation of the facility as a precautionary measure.

Police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala said the suspect was apprehended for questioning and later detained.

"He will appear in the Paarl Magistrates' Court on Thursday, January 29. No injuries were reported; all patients were safely evacuated from the building. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation." 

She further stated that Paarl detectives are investigating a case of arson after the fire that reportedly broke out at the hospital at around 11am.

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness confirmed that a small section of the hospital was affected by the fire, which was quickly brought under control.

According to the department, early indications suggested that a vehicle parked adjacent to the building caught alight, causing the flames to spread to the hospital structure. The exact cause will be confirmed once investigations are concluded.

Smoke from the fire led to the full evacuation of the hospital as a safety precaution, and patients were safely moved. The phased reopening of clinical areas was underway as sections of the facility were assessed and declared safe.

The hospital’s Outpatient Department sustained extensive damage, while maternity patients were relocated to other healthcare facilities to ensure continuity of care.

Western Cape MEC for Health and Wellness, Mireille Wenger, praised the quick response by emergency services and hospital staff.

“Our immediate priority was the safety of patients, staff and visitors, and I want to commend the hospital teams and emergency services for acting swiftly and professionally under pressure.

"Thanks to their coordinated response, patients were safely relocated, and no injuries were reported. We are now focused on restoring services as quickly and safely as possible, while ensuring continuity of care for all affected patients.”

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