Steam Leak at LLUMC-Murrieta Prompts Fire Response

What was initially dispatched as a structure fire Tuesday night at Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta turned out to be a steam leak, officials said.

Five Murrieta fire engines responded at about 6:20 p.m. to the medical center on Baxter Road. After finding no smoke or fire, Murrieta fire Battalion Chief Steve Kean said crews used thermal imaging cameras to detect the source of the heat.

Kean described a "light haze" on the second floor of the hospital. By about 7 p.m., he said they had it narrowed down to what appeared to be a steam leak.

No patients were evacuated as a result of the leak, according to LLUMC-Murrieta spokesperson Kathryn Stiles.

"Everyone is safe," Stiles said, within an hour of the initial incident.

"We believe it is steam...we have isolated the specific areas that are leaking and we are fixing it," Stiles said.

The building was built to 2010 OSHA standards, Stiles said, which meant automatic fire doors tripped and contained the leak to that area.

She said once it was determined there was no immediate threat from the leaks, the hospital switched "from emergency response to repair response."

"We applaud the Police Department and Fire Department for coming out," Stiles said.