A fire ignited Wednesday night at Mount Sinai Hospital on the Upper East Side resulting in six firefighters getting injured and about 600 people being evacuated from the east wing to the west wing of the building.

 

The fire ignited in the mechanical room on the second floor shortly before 6:30 p.m. and spread to a first floor emergency room, Fire Department of New York spokesman Frank Dwyer said. Within a few minutes, smoke covered the whole building. Dwyer also added that no civilian was injured in the incident. However, six firefighters were hurt in the blaze. Around 8.30 p.m., the fire was declared under control.

 

Patients on the third through 11th floors in the east wing of the 12-story hospital were moved to the west wing, as firefighters searched the building. Hours later, however, they were allowed back to their floors, a hospital spokesman said in a statement released at 10.55 p.m.

 

The flames were visible from the adjacent Madison Avenue, said Janet Montero, a manager at the nearby One Fish Two Fish restaurant. Metro Traffic reported that Madison Avenue was closed between 96th Street and 103rd Street.

 

Mount Sinai occupies four square blocks on New York’s Upper East Side, It was founded in downtown Manhattan in 1852 having nearly 1,200 beds.

 

The cause of the blaze is currently under investigation. Hospital representatives did not answer calls seeking comment.