Cape Town – A fire broke out at Paarl Provincial Hospital in the Western Cape on Tuesday morning, prompting the precautionary evacuation of patients and staff. Authorities confirmed that the blaze was swiftly brought under control and that no injuries were reported.
According to IOL, the fire started at the hospital in the Drakenstein Municipality and was quickly contained by emergency services, including hospital staff, the Drakenstein Fire and Rescue Services, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and local law enforcement.
“The fire was quickly contained, and we would like to thank hospital staff, the Drakenstein Municipality’s Fire Services, SAPS, and local law enforcement for their swift and professional response,” the Western Cape Department of Health said in a statement.
Eyewitness News reported that several floors of the hospital were evacuated as a precaution after the fire broke out at approximately 11:17am, with firefighters responding immediately.
Drakenstein Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Zulfa Peterson confirmed that firefighters had contained the blaze and that “no injuries were reported.”
🔥🚒 UPDATE: Councillor Stephen Korabie, Executive Mayor of Drakenstein Municipality, is on the scene at Paarl Hospital following a fire incident.
Preliminary investigations indicate that an electric car caught alight, leading to the blaze. https://t.co/sRX2Y4HDkH pic.twitter.com/KLaSu8RVvC— Cape Argus (@TheCapeArgus) January 27, 2026
Further reports suggest the fire may have been linked to an electric vehicle that caught alight on the hospital premises. However, officials said investigations into the exact cause of the incident are ongoing and no definitive conclusion has yet been reached.
Patients who were in the affected area were safely relocated to other sections of the hospital. Operations in parts of the facility not impacted by the fire continued as normal while authorities secured the scene and assessed the extent of the damage.
The Western Cape Department of Health said a full assessment is under way to determine the impact of the fire, with further updates expected once the process is complete.
🚨🇿🇦An electric vehicle ignited near Paarl provincial hospital in Cape Town. The fire caught other vehicles parked nearby, before spreading to a hospital building.
Fortunately there were no injuries reported, and the fire was successfully extinguished. pic.twitter.com/KLyEz2Y03n
— Inside Edge (@4Inside_Edge) January 27, 2026
Electric car Vechle batteries cause of fire 🔥 at Paarl Hospital @_ArriveAlive @MonSpek1 @AlgoaFMNews pic.twitter.com/vanf5M6HLO
— Tony (@AntonBarna11828) January 27, 2026
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
