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HOSPITAL INFERNO
Ambulance explodes in ball of fire during blaze at hospital
Witnesses report huge clouds of black smoke as East Surrey Hospital suffers fiery 'explosion'
EMERGENCY services rushed to a three vehicle fire when three ambulances went up in flames - outside a hospital.
Local residents reported hearing loud bangs and smoke billowing from the East Surrey Hospital after three ambulances parked outside caught fire at around 2pm today.
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Surrey and Sussex NHS Trust confirmed they are dealing with the incident, involving the ambulances but no one has been injured.
Patients watched in horror as the three ambulances burst into flames, causing more than half a million pounds worth of damage and shutting down the entire accident and emergency department.
The blaze was declared as a major incident after the canopy at the front of the hospital caught fire and patients were escorted out of the accident and emergency block as the billowing smoke spread inside the building.
It was believed that one of the vehicles caught fire while it was parked outside the hospital entrance and the inferno spread to at least two other vehicles parked nearby.
At least four oxygen cylinders exploded. It is understood that a gas cylinder initially exploded within the first vehicle, causing the flames to spread.
Witness Carla Lupi, who was driving past the incident when she spotted an ambulance on fire.
She said: "I just saw smoke and drove round to the east entrance and that is when I saw the ambulance on fire.
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"We saw just the one at first and then we saw two more catch light.
"We started to drive off and heard a really loud explosion.
"Staff were trying to get everyone away as quick as they could.
"I heard seven explosions. They were a few minutes apart."
A spokesman for Surrey Fire and Rescue has just said: "Four fire engines were called out at 2.15pm to the east entrance of the hospital.
";Three ambulances have caught fire and the crews are on scene now."
Surrey Police have cordoned off the scene.
A spokesman said: "Officers on scene at East Surrey Hospital following fire involving three ambulances and part of the building, cordon in place, incident ongoing."
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust added: "We are dealing with an incident involving three ambulances outside East Surrey Hospital.
"Everyone is safe. No one is injured."
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Jeni Comeau, 29, pulled over at the roundabout near the hospital after seeing thick, black smoke rising into the air.
She said: "I can see lots of thick, black smoke. I pulled over to call my friend because she has gone to the hospital with her son.
"She's in the paediatrics unit and I didn't know if she needs to get out. When I spoke to her she said no one had told her something was going on.
"There are so many police cars, ambulances and fire engines going into the hospital right now. Some lady just said it was a gas explosion - gas canisters - but I don't know what's going on."
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