Shapiro visits Dickson City to praise hospital fire response

DICKSON CITY — Governor Josh Shapiro visited Eagle Hose Company No. 1 on Tuesday to personally thank the first responders who battled a massive fire at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Dickson City last week. After viewing the extraordinary damage to the facility’s older orthopedic wing, the governor praised the courage of the staff and the nine responding fire departments for safely evacuating 77 patients from the densely populated area. During the visit, Shapiro announced a $37 million investment in the Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Program, noting that Dickson City will receive over $16,000 of those funds. While Mayor Robert MacCallum indicated the hospital’s emergency room could reopen as early as Friday, the governor emphasized that the state Department of Health must first certify the building is safe for workers and patients. State police continue to investigate the cause of the blaze to prevent future incidents, while engineers have confirmed the main section of the hospital remains structurally sound.