The Children's Hospital Fire: Who Burned It Down?

did they burn down a childrens hospital

There have been several instances of children's hospitals being damaged by fire. In 2020, there were false claims on social media that a children's hospital in Dallas, Texas, was set on fire during protests. In 2019, a small blaze broke out at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, requiring the evacuation of about 200 people. In 2018, a baby was severely burned at Primary Children's Hospital when tubing ignited in her throat during a routine operation. Also, during the Gaza war, there was a deadly fire at Al-Aqsa hospital after an Israel strike that resulted in casualties, including children.

Characteristics Values
Location Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Incident A small blaze broke out in an area under construction
Outcome No injuries reported
Number of evacuees 200
Number of firefighters 80
Time taken to extinguish the fire Under an hour
Location Primary Children's Hospital
Incident A baby was severely burned during a routine operation
Location Children's Medical Center, Dallas
Incident False claim that the hospital was set on fire during protests
Location Al-Aqsa Hospital, Gaza
Incident Fire broke out after an Israeli strike, igniting makeshift shelters
Number of deaths 4-5
Number of injuries 40-65
Location Texas Children's Hospital, Houston
Incident Protesters vandalized a car outside the hospital

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False claims about a children's hospital in Dallas being set on fire

In 2020, there were online claims that a children's hospital in Dallas had been set on fire during protests. However, these claims are false. While the claims did not name a specific hospital, comments pointed to the Children's Medical Center in Dallas. A spokesperson for the hospital denied that it had been set on fire. Reuters also found no evidence of any children's hospital in Dallas being set on fire during the demonstrations.

The false claims featured screenshots of posts that had been edited to remove the reference to "Dallas". The photos in the posts were the same as those used in a previously debunked false claim that the Nationwide Children's Hospital and the Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, had been set on fire during protests.

There has been at least one instance of a fire at a children's hospital in Dallas. In June 2016, a small fire broke out on the fourth floor of the Children's Medical Center of Dallas during welding work on an air handling unit. While the fire was contained to the fourth floor, smoke spread down to the third floor. The building was evacuated, with some people extracted by helicopter. Firefighters and hospital personnel worked to clear the smoke and take care of evacuated patients.

In 2019, a small blaze also broke out at Children's Hospital Los Angeles' main campus in East Hollywood. The fire occurred in a basement area under construction, and no injuries were reported. Approximately 200 people were evacuated, and firefighters worked with building engineers to ventilate the facility.

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A baby was burned during a routine operation at Primary Children's Hospital

In May 2018, a baby suffered severe burns during a routine operation at Primary Children's Hospital. The baby's mother, Heather Benson, recounted how doctors and hospital staff pulled her aside after the incident to inform her of the complication. The baby, born with laryngomalacia, a common birth defect, was undergoing a procedure to burn away excess tissue in her upper larynx using a carbon dioxide laser. However, a tube slipped and came into contact with the laser, igniting and causing burns across the baby's entire airway, from her vocal cords to her mouth.

Benson, along with the baby's father, Scott Kendrick, filed a lawsuit against the hospital, seeking accountability and compensation for pain and suffering, medical treatment costs, future mental health treatment, and lost earnings. They argue that the hospital used the wrong type of tubing, which was flammable, and that they cannot provide the specialized care their daughter now needs at home.

The baby has remained in the hospital since the incident, with Benson expressing concern about the risk of hospital-acquired infections and the lack of adequate aftercare if she were to take her daughter home. A spokeswoman for Primary Children's Hospital issued a statement emphasizing the health and safety of their young patients as their top priority.

While this incident did not involve burning down a children's hospital, it is important to note that there have been fires at children's hospitals in the past. For example, in August 2019, a small blaze broke out in an under-construction area at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, leading to the evacuation of approximately 200 people. However, no injuries were reported, and the fire was contained to the basement area. Additionally, claims of a children's hospital being set on fire during protests in Dallas were found to be untrue by Reuters.

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A fire broke out at Children's Hospital Los Angeles in 2019

On Monday, August 5, 2019, a fire broke out at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, causing the partial evacuation of the hospital. About 200 people were evacuated from three floors of the building, including the hospital operators, as a safety precaution. The fire was first reported at 11:20 a.m. in the basement area of the Mary Duque Building, located to the northeast of the hospital's main entrance. This area was under construction and did not serve patients.

Firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department were quick to respond to the scene, and they successfully extinguished the blaze in about an hour. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire, and it did not affect patients elsewhere on the property. The hospital's director of media relations, Lorenzo Benet, confirmed that the fire originated in an area that doesn't serve patients.

The fire sent smoke throughout the building, and fire crews worked closely with building engineers to ventilate the facility after the flames were extinguished. The cause of the fire is not mentioned in the sources. However, it is described as a "pesky fire," indicating that it may have been challenging to control or extinguish.

This incident caused a temporary disruption at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, but the quick response from firefighters and hospital staff ensured that there were no injuries or significant impacts on patient care. The hospital's main priority was the health and safety of their young patients, and they took the necessary steps to protect them from any potential harm.

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Claims of protesters vandalizing Texas Children's Hospital in 2020

In June 2020, a video began circulating on social media that appeared to show protesters vandalizing a car and throwing rocks, bricks, and trash. The video, which was viewed over 28,000 times, claimed that the protesters were vandalizing the Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. The protests were in response to the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died during an encounter with a white Minneapolis police officer.

However, these claims were quickly debunked by news organizations and the hospital itself. The location in the video was identified as the corner of Walker and Austin Streets in downtown Houston, not the Texas Children's Hospital. The hospital released a statement confirming that they had not experienced any damage as a result of the protests and reaffirming their commitment to serving all children, regardless of race, religion, or ability to pay.

Houston Police also refuted the claims, stating that they were unaware of any significant property damage and that the number of arrests during the protests was relatively low. They urged protesters to get tested for coronavirus and emphasized the largely peaceful nature of the demonstrations.

It is worth noting that similar false claims had been made about other hospitals, such as the Nationwide Children's Hospital and the Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, which were also debunked by Reuters.

While the video in question did not show any damage to the Texas Children's Hospital, it is important to recognize the impact of misinformation and the role of fact-checking in maintaining public trust and ensuring the safety of institutions like hospitals, especially during times of social unrest.

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Deadly fire at Al-Aqsa hospital in Gaza after an Israel strike

In 2024, an Israeli airstrike on a tent camp in a hospital compound in Gaza sparked a deadly fire and killed at least four people, including women and children, and injured dozens more. The strike hit the al-Aqsa Hospital compound in Deir al-Balah, igniting a fire that burned makeshift shelters for displaced people. Witnesses described their horror at seeing people injured and killed in the flames, with one man saying he "broke down" as he was "unable to do anything" to help those who burned to death. This was the seventh strike on the hospital site since March and the third in two weeks.

Charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which has staff working at al-Aqsa, told the BBC that the hospital functions as a hospital and that they had "no knowledge" of a Hamas centre. The UN's humanitarian affairs agency also released a statement, saying that "people burned to death" and that "atrocities must end". A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council called the footage "disturbing", saying that "Israel has a responsibility to do more to avoid civilian casualties".

In a separate incident in April 2025, Israel's military targeted Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza City with two missiles, causing severe damage. Over 100 patients and dozens of staff were affected, and one patient, a girl, died during the evacuation. This was part of a wave of Israeli strikes across Gaza that hit a hospital and other sites, killing at least 21 people, including children.

In 2019, a small blaze broke out at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, leading to the evacuation of about 200 people. No injuries were reported, and the incident did not affect patients elsewhere on the property.

Frequently asked questions

No, this is false. While there were claims on social media that a children's hospital in Dallas, Texas was burned, a spokesperson for the Children's Medical Center Dallas told Reuters that this was untrue. There is also no evidence of any other children's hospital being burned down during the protests.

No, but there was a deadly fire at the Al-Aqsa hospital compound in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, after an Israeli strike. The fire burned makeshift shelters for displaced people, and at least four people were killed, with dozens injured, mostly women and children.

Yes, a baby girl suffered severe burns during a routine operation at Primary Children's Hospital when tubing ignited in her throat. The baby's parents are suing the hospital and doctors for alleged negligence.

Yes, a small blaze broke out in an area under construction at Children's Hospital Los Angeles in 2019. Around 200 people were evacuated, and about 80 firefighters responded and extinguished the flames in under an hour. No injuries were reported.

No, a video posted online claiming to show protesters vandalizing the hospital was viewed over 28,000 times. However, news reports and a statement from the hospital confirmed that the protesters were not vandalizing the children's hospital.

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