Explosion, fire knock out power at Odessa hospital
Wednesday, January 16, 2002, The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal , Associated Press
ODESSA, Texas (AP) <http://wire.ap.org/> - An electrical explosion temporarily knocked out the power at a Permian Basin hospital on Tuesday. The explosion rattled Medical Center Hospital, halting five to eight surgeries being performed at the time, said hospital administrator David Meisell. Emergency generators came on within minutes, and the surgeries were completed, he said. No injuries were reported. Ambulances and emergencies were diverted to other hospitals through Tuesday night. Meisell called the explosion an electrical discharge and said it caught some insulation on fire. The smoke blackened the power plant vents, Meisell said in Wednesday's editions of the Odessa American. Power was restored at the hospital by Tuesday night, hospital spokeswoman Renee Earls said.

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