A liquid oxygen spill Monday prompted closure of the emergency room at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital and the postponement of surgeries, but no injuries were reported.
Firefighters were sent to the facility at 4650 Lincoln Blvd. about 8:40 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
"The liquid oxygen spill originated from a sheared pipe on a 2,000- gallon tank," said Margaret Stewart of the LAFD. "The majority of the tank contents spilled."
Emergency room functions were reassigned to other area medical facilities while crews worked to assess the problem, determine the cause of the break and repair the damaged pipe, a situation that was continuing late Monday morning.
Some patients were taken to other hospitals by LAFD ambulances, based on their medical needs, LAFD Capt. Erik Scott said. When the leaking liquid oxygen in the outdoor tank mixed with air, it froze, and the area has to be thawed out before repairs can be made, Scott said.