Claire Dawson
The Feather River Hospital, which first opened in 1950, was a 101-bed hospital that served the communities of Paradise, Magalia, and smaller towns. In 2018, the hospital was severely damaged by the Camp Fire, which tore through Paradise, California. The hospital was evacuated, and while the main building withstood the flames, a portion of the hospital, including the emergency room, was damaged by the fire. The hospital closed in November 2018 and has since remained abandoned.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the hospital | Feather River Hospital |
| Location | Paradise, California |
| Year of fire incident | 2018 |
| Date of fire incident | 8 November 2018 |
| Number of patients and staff evacuated | 280 |
| Number of ambulances that made it to Paradise | 2 |
| Number of patients evacuated by 8:50 | 80 |
| Number of staff evacuated by 8:50 | 200 |
| Number of administrative buildings on campus | 15 |
| Number of administrative buildings that burned | 9 |
| Number of clinics that burned | 1 |
| Number of employees | 1,300 |
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What You'll Learn
- The hospital was evacuated, with 280 patients and staff transported out of danger
- The hospital's main building withstood the fire, but the lower level and administrative buildings burned down
- A fleet of nurses and patients were saved by taking refuge in a garage
- The hospital closed in November 2018 and has not reopened since
- The hospital employed close to 1,300 people and was the major medical centre for locals
The hospital was evacuated, with 280 patients and staff transported out of danger
The Feather River Hospital in Paradise, California, was evacuated as the Camp Fire approached in November 2018. The hospital staff worked quickly to evacuate 280 patients and employees, with 80 patients and 200 staff evacuated by 8:50 p.m. The staff made desperate calls for ambulances and helicopters, but due to gridlocked traffic and the fire, only two ambulances from Chico arrived near the end of the evacuation. Tragically, one of these ambulances caught fire and burned, and the helicopters were unable to land due to smoke.
The Feather River Hospital was a 101-bed acute care hospital with a range of outpatient departments and services, including an emergency room, a cancer center, a maternity unit, an outpatient surgery center, and cardiology and radiology services. It was the major medical center for locals before the fire, employing nearly 1,300 people, a significant number for the small town of Paradise.
The hospital suffered extensive damage during the Camp Fire, with the lower level and nine of the 15 administrative buildings burning, along with one clinic. The main building withstood the flames, but the hospital was forced to close in November 2018 due to the damage. The older parts of the hospital burned, while the newer sections, including the emergency room and surgical unit, remained intact but inoperable without water and electricity.
The evacuation of Feather River Hospital was a challenging and dangerous endeavor, with patients and staff facing significant risks as they fled the approaching fire. The hospital staff worked tirelessly to ensure the safe evacuation of everyone, demonstrating remarkable dedication and courage in the face of adversity.
The impact of the hospital's closure has been significant for the community of Paradise. The town has become a healthcare desert, with residents having to travel long distances to Chico or other nearby hospitals during medical emergencies. The loss of the hospital has made the town's recovery from the Camp Fire more challenging, and the lack of a fully-staffed medical facility continues to affect the well-being of the community.
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The hospital's main building withstood the fire, but the lower level and administrative buildings burned down
The Feather River Hospital in Paradise, California, experienced a devastating blow during the Camp Fire in 2018. While the main building withstood the flames, the lower level and administrative buildings were not so fortunate.
The fire extensively damaged the lower level of the hospital, and of the 15 administrative buildings on the campus, nine were consumed by the flames, in addition to one clinic. This resulted in the closure of the hospital, leaving the town without a fully staffed medical facility. The emergency room's roof collapsed, and the structural damage rendered the hospital inoperable.
The Feather River Hospital played a critical role in the community, employing nearly 1,300 people, a significant number for the small town's population. The hospital boasted 101 beds and a range of services, including an emergency room, cancer center, maternity unit, outpatient surgery center, and cardiology and radiology services.
During the Camp Fire, the hospital staff worked tirelessly to evacuate patients and fellow employees. They faced challenges due to gridlocked traffic and the fire's intensity, resulting in only two ambulances arriving from Chico. Sadly, one of these ambulances caught fire, endangering the patients and staff inside.
Despite the resilience of the main building, the damage inflicted upon the lower level and administrative buildings was substantial. The fire highlighted the vulnerability of healthcare infrastructure in the face of natural disasters and the subsequent struggle to restore essential services to the affected community.
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A fleet of nurses and patients were saved by taking refuge in a garage
On November 8, 2018, the Feather River Hospital in Paradise, California, burned down during the Camp Fire. The hospital was a 101-bed acute care facility with a range of outpatient departments and services, including an emergency room, cancer center, maternity unit, and outpatient surgery center. The fire extensively damaged the lower level of the hospital, and of the 15 administrative buildings on the campus, nine burned down, along with one clinic.
Amid the chaos and destruction, a fleet of nurses and their patients found refuge in a garage. Crissy Foster, a nurse at Feather River Hospital, received a message from Desiree Borden, a resident of Paradise. Borden had evacuated with her family earlier that morning as the Camp Fire erupted nearby. Foster and other hospital personnel were evacuating patients by ambulance when one of the ambulances caught fire just outside Borden's home. The medical team and patients fled the burning ambulance and took shelter in Borden's garage, one of the few houses on the street that was not on fire.
They laid the patients down on the garage floor, trying to reassure them while also hiding their own fears. Borden and her husband opened their home to the nurses and patients, providing a safe haven from the raging wildfire. The patients, some of whom were in critical condition, were set up inside the garage as they awaited rescue. Borden's act of kindness and hospitality saved lives, offering a glimmer of hope and humanity amid the devastation wreaked by the Camp Fire.
The Feather River Hospital employed nearly 1,300 people, playing a vital role in the tight-knit community. The hospital's closure in November 2018 due to fire damage significantly impacted Paradise's recovery. The town was left without a fully-staffed hospital and emergency room, forcing residents to travel long distances to Chico for urgent medical care. Despite receiving $128 million from its insurer, Adventist Health, which ran the hospital, had no intention of reopening due to a lack of staff and a diminished population in the area.
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The hospital closed in November 2018 and has not reopened since
The Feather River Hospital in Paradise, California, suffered extensive damage during the Camp Fire in November 2018. While the main building withstood the flames, several parts of the hospital were affected. The lower level of the hospital burned extensively, and of the 15 administrative buildings on the campus, nine were destroyed by the fire, along with one clinic. The emergency room, surgical unit, and other newer parts of the hospital remained intact, but they could not be operated due to a lack of water and electricity.
The hospital was a vital medical facility for the community, boasting 101 beds and offering a range of services, including an emergency room, cancer center, maternity unit, outpatient surgery center, and cardiology and radiology services. The hospital employed nearly 1,300 people, making it a significant employer in the town. During the fire, the staff of Feather River Hospital worked tirelessly to evacuate patients and staff. Approximately 80 patients and 200 employees were evacuated, and sadly, one critically ill intensive-care patient died during the evacuation.
After the fire, the hospital was forced to close due to the significant structural damage it had sustained. The closure of the hospital left the town without a fully staffed medical facility, and the closest alternative for locals was in Chico, a considerable distance away. The loss of the hospital has had a lasting impact on the community, and even years later, the town continues to struggle with the lack of accessible healthcare options.
Feather River Hospital has not reopened since its closure in November 2018. The organisation that ran the hospital, Adventist Health, had no intentions to reopen the facility due to a lack of staff and a diminished population in the area. The closure of the hospital highlights the challenges faced by communities recovering from devastating wildfires and the long-lasting impact on their access to essential services.
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The hospital employed close to 1,300 people and was the major medical centre for locals
The Feather River Hospital in Paradise, California, was a bustling medical centre and a significant employer in the community. With a staff of nearly 1,300 people, it served the towns of Paradise and Magalia and their smaller neighbours. The hospital was part of Adventist Health, a faith-based non-profit organisation, providing a range of services, including an emergency room, a cancer centre, a maternity unit, an outpatient surgery centre, and cardiology and radiology services.
The hospital played a crucial role in the tight-knit community. Trish Fulton, a nurse who used to work at Feather River, described the strong bonds formed with the locals: "As nurses and physicians, we interacted with our patients outside in the community. We were very close." The hospital was also a source of stable employment in a town that was not known for its wealth. Brandon Mortimer, a former part-time respiratory therapist, considered his job at the hospital as "one of the best jobs you could have" in Paradise.
When the Camp Fire approached in November 2018, the hospital was evacuated, with 80 patients and 200 employees being safely transported to safety. The lower level of the hospital and nine of the 15 administrative buildings were extensively damaged by the fire, along with one clinic. The main building withstood the flames, but the hospital ultimately closed due to the damage and lack of essential utilities like water and electricity.
The closure of Feather River Hospital left a significant void in the community. Paradise residents were now without their primary medical centre and emergency room, forcing them to travel to Chico for healthcare services. The impact was also felt by the hospital staff, who had to decide whether to relocate to other Adventist Health facilities or seek employment elsewhere. The loss of Feather River Hospital highlighted the challenges of recovering from a devastating fire and the importance of access to healthcare services in the community.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Feather River Hospital was severely damaged by the Camp Fire in 2018 and was forced to close. The hospital's emergency room and surgical unit remained intact, but the fire damage rendered the building inoperable.
Yes, one critically ill intensive-care patient died during the evacuation of the hospital.
During the fire, hospital staff and patients took refuge in a nearby garage that was miraculously untouched by the flames. All patients were eventually safely evacuated, and staff wages were covered for three months following the hospital's closure.
No, Feather River Hospital has not reopened since the fire. The building remains abandoned, and there are currently no plans to restore the hospital.
