Lakeport, Calif.-based Sutter Lakeside Hospital reopened Aug. 10, 12 days after a deadly wildfire pushed its way into the region, forcing the evacuation of the 25-bed hospital, according to the Lake County News.
The critical access hospital is again offering full inpatient and emergency care services. Elective procedures have been postponed. .
While the hospital was closed for 12 days, patients were transferred to nearby community hospitals.
The hospital received the first evacuation order at 4:15 p.m. July 28. The hospital reopened for emergency and obstetrics services the morning of July 29 but was forced to evacuate again that night after the fire worsened.
"We safely evacuated 20 patients, all our staff and physicians," said Teresa Campbell, chief nursing executive, Sutter Lakeside Hospital. "Only a small group of us stayed behind to protect the hospital’s resources. We also held our breath, along with the rest of the community, waiting to see what the winds would do."
When the evacuation order was lifted, staff worked around the clock to prepare the facility to reopen.