Flames break out at former hospital building in Corcoran

KINGS COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- An early morning blaze destroyed a former hospital in Kings County.

Action News video shows flames going through the roof at a former hospital in Corcoran.

Around midnight on Monday morning, the Kings County Fire Department was called out to Hanna and Van Dorsten Avenues.

The building was once the Adventist Health Medical Center.

By the time firefighters arrived, it was consumed by flames.

"The building is boarded up, so we had to make entry into the building and went to go attack the fire, but then the fire vented through the roof, and things were falling down on firefighters. So we retreated and went defensive mode on the fire," described Kings County Fire Department Battalion Chief Aaron Parreira.

Kings County Firefighters say they worked through the night and into daylight hours to put out the flames.

It's the largest fire they have seen in over 20 years.

Although the hospital has been closed for a decade, the community will still feel the impact.

"It was a long-standing place for the community as far as medical care- so it's probably going to have a big impact after everything is said and done," explained Corcoran Police Deputy Chief Pedro Castro.

For one long-time Corcoran resident and former hospital employee, Linda Lahnom, the loss hits close to home.

"I feel kinda sad because we use this hospital, and like I said, my mom died here. That's the last memory I have from it. So, a sad memory," mentioned Linda.

Smoke could be seen from several blocks away. The blaze caused four local schools to close early.

Two school sites were left with no power.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but we do know it started on the southeast end of the building.

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