Patients are evacuated from Leeds hospital after reports of a fire in the building

Dozens of patients were evacuated from Leeds hospital into the freezing cold after a fire broke out inside, with smoke reportedly filling the corridors.

Police officers and fire crews rushed to Leeds General Infirmary on Thursday evening as patients and staff were ordered to leave.

A man was arrested at the scene after he was caught ‘causing damage’ and ‘attempting to start a fire’, police said. 

Dramatic photos and video showed elderly patients in their beds being wheeled out of the hospital. Temperatures in the city were around 1C (33.8F) at the time.  

A man with former colleagues at the scene said smoke had filled the corridors in several areas.  He said: ‘I heard that the smoke was filling up the corridors from A and E up to ICU and Theatres (one level up).’

A police cordon was in place outside the building and fire crews were seen bagging evidence.

Buses are unable to go past the hospital, with First West Yorkhire tweeting: ‘Service 5 towards Albion Street – Due to an obstruction on Clarendon Way the service is currently following the 5A route. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.’  

A police spokesman said: ‘Enquiries are ongoing this evening following an incident at a hospital in Leeds.

‘Police were called to the Leeds General Infirmary at about 17.54 to a report of a man in possession of a screwdriver who was causing damage in a unit, had made threats, and was attempting to start a fire.

‘The area was evacuated, and officers attended, located and arrested a man.

‘West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service also attended the hospital and extinguished fire inside the affected area.

‘No-one is believed to have been injured in the incident.

‘Police remain on scene and the suspect remains in custody.’