From the 'South Wales Argus' 14.9.73

Hospital mystery blaze
Officials were today investigating a mystery blaze which gutted Cefn Ila Hospital, near Usk – only a day after a fire check was made there. Mr.W.P.D.Casey, fire prevention officer for Newport and East Monmouthshire hospital management group, made a routine check on the empty hospital yesterday. Mr Casey said: “ I went right through the hospital and it was all right then”

Hampered
The fire got a firm hold on the isolated hospital in the early hours. Firemen were hampered in their efforts by a shortage of water in the area. Cefn Ila – a former maternity hospital – has been closed since September 3 and patients had been transferred to the County Hospital, Griffithstown. Altogether 35 firemen – including relief workers – and five appliances fought the blaze.

• A fire service spokesman said that the fire got a “tremendous hold” on the building before they got there because an early warning had not been given.

It was a farmer, Mr Baulch, of nearby Cefn Ila Farm, who alerted emergency services to the blaze.

Problems
When firemen arrived at the scene they were faced with two problems – the water shortage and the lack of space in front of the hospital to manoeuvre their equipment. Water had to be taken from a water tank at a nearby farm which had to be kept topped up throughout the operation from auxiliary supplies carried by the engines themselves.A senior police officer said that the cause of the blaze was still being investigated. As yet there are no theories as to how it started. Because the blaze was still smouldering at lunchtime today officials had not been able to get inside and establish a cause.

• Mr. Casey said that he would not like to say whether or not the fire was started deliberately. “They have to establish which part of the building it started in first.

"I will co-operate with the fire services and the police to see if we can establish a cause” The hospital’s closure was a temporary measure while it’s future role was sorted out. Equipment had been distributed to other hospitals. Furniture had been taken out to discourage vandals.

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