Smoke from a malfunctioning piece of sterilization equipment prompted a response from Foley firefighters at Baldwin Health this morning, though no active fire was found and hospital operations continued.

According to Fire Chief Joey Darby, “The source of the smoke was found to be an equipment failure in the sterilization area. We rendered the area safe and removed the smoke with positive pressure ventilation fans.”

Darby said crews were dispatched shortly after 10:20 a.m. and ventilated the first floor while some nonessential personnel were evacuated. Patient care and other hospital operations continued without interruption. The affected equipment was isolated, and the hospital resumed full operations around 1 p.m.