Lehigh Valley Hospital Dickson City Resumes Critical Services After Fire

The hospital will reopen its emergency department and operating rooms just 9 days after a massive fire.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Lehigh Valley Hospital in Dickson City, Pennsylvania will be reopening its emergency department and operating rooms on Friday morning, just nine days after a massive fire tore through the building. Inpatient care areas will also be reopening, and the hospital is reaching out to patients with upcoming appointments. A mobile kitchen has been set up to provide food service for patients. Governor Shapiro visited the site and assured the public that safety is the top priority, and that the hospital will not reopen until it is deemed safe.

Why it matters

The quick restoration of critical hospital services like the emergency department and operating rooms is crucial for the local community, which relies on the Lehigh Valley Hospital Dickson City location for essential healthcare. The fire caused significant damage, so the hospital's ability to resume operations in just over a week is an impressive feat that demonstrates their commitment to patient care.

The details

The hospital's emergency department will resume operations at 7 a.m. on Friday, followed by the operating rooms at 9 a.m. Surgeries will be taking place throughout the weekend for patients whose procedures were delayed due to the fire. A mobile kitchen has also been set up to provide food service for patients. Governor Shapiro visited the site and stated that safety is the top priority, and the hospital will not reopen until it is deemed safe. The hospital's orthopedic center was declared a total loss, but Jefferson Health says it has opened a number of temporary orthopedic locations throughout the area to fill the gaps.

  • The fire at the Lehigh Valley Hospital Dickson City's orthopedic institute occurred on February 4, 2026.
  • The hospital will reopen its emergency department and operating rooms on February 13, 2026, just 9 days after the fire.

The players

Lehigh Valley Hospital

A healthcare system that operates several hospitals in eastern Pennsylvania, including the Dickson City location that was impacted by the fire.

Governor Shapiro

The governor of Pennsylvania who visited the Dickson City hospital site and assured the public that safety is the top priority for the hospital's reopening.

Jefferson Health

A healthcare provider that has opened temporary orthopedic locations to fill the gap left by the loss of the Lehigh Valley Hospital Dickson City's orthopedic center.

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What they’re saying

“I can assure the public that this hospital will not be reopened until it is safe for people to work in and safe for people to go there for care. I know that Friday is their deadline, and we're going to be doing everything in our power to work with them to meet that deadline.”

— Governor Shapiro (mytwintiers.com)

“The feedback that I get about our first responders, about our fire, particularly in this area in the wake of this tragedy is just a profound sense of gratitude.”

— Governor Shapiro (mytwintiers.com)

What’s next

The hospital is reaching out to patients with upcoming appointments to reschedule procedures that were delayed due to the fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The takeaway

The Lehigh Valley Hospital Dickson City's ability to restore critical services like the emergency department and operating rooms in just over a week after a devastating fire demonstrates the hospital's commitment to patient care and the community's resilience in the face of adversity.