The Midland Fire Department (MFD) responded to a fire at the F. Marie Hall Outpatient Center, located at 4214 Andrews Highway, at approximately 7:32 p.m. on May 4. The fire, which began on the second-floor balcony, extended into the walls of the former Midland Memorial West campus.
According to a press release where the announcement was made, MFD officials reported that firefighters contained the fire to its area of origin, preventing further spread and damage. No injuries were reported during the incident.
An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the fire.
According to an update provided by MMH Director of Planning, Marketing & Communications Tasa Richardson, the fire incident occurred during the installation of a new heat-applied roofing system across the building.
Richardson explained that during the installation on June 4, some adjacent construction materials were accidentally overheated and subsequently covered with new roofing. This overheating caused the materials to smolder, producing enough smoke to enter limited areas of the building. Once the smoke was detected, the contractor promptly began removing the smoldering materials to contain the issue. They also contacted the fire department to ensure there were adequate resources to manage the situation.
The fire department assisted in removing all smoldering materials, eliminating the source of the smoke.
According to Richardson, the response from both the contractors and the fire department ensured that the situation was brought under control, resulting in no significant damage. However, a few areas of the building have a lingering smell of smoke.
As a result of the fire, departments at MMH have adjusted their operations:
- Accounting/Payroll: Will reopen June 6.
- Sleep Lab: Will reopen the night of June 6.
- Wound Management Center: Plans to reopen June 6.
- Materials Management and Centralized Scheduling: Closed at the F. Marie Hall Outpatient location but have made alternate accommodations to remain operational.