Another Attempt At the Calderón Guardia Hospital
It has been less than a year since 20 people perished in a fire at the Hospital Calderón Guardia and yesterday, Judicial authorities were already investigating another fire, a fire tha appears to be the work of a criminal, putting the lives of workers and patients at risk.

Yesterdays fire was quickly contained and no injuries were reported.

Authorities say that short circuit raised the hair on the back of the neck of workers at the hospital, many who lived through the fire last year, and patients in their care.

The fire began near a fire pump room that appears to have the door to the machine room forced open by someone who has yet to be identified.

According to Sandra Montero, sub-director of the hospital, the operator in charge of security for the machine room only heard an explosion and seconds later the power went out. Montero said that the security guard could not see anyone near the machine room and when the power was returned, the force entry was noticed and worse, the short circuit would have meant the fire pump would have not worked if a fire had started.

Héctor Chávez, director of Bomberos (firefighters), said that on inspection there was no wrong doing involved and that the incident occurred when a problem with the electrical wiring caused the short circuit, which would have caused the pump to fail if there had been a fire.

However, inspectors of the INS (Instituto Nacional de Seguros, the state insurance company and operator of the Bomberos) and the Organismo de Investigacion Judicial (OIJ) - judicial police - are not so easily convinced that there was no foul play involved.

INS and OIJ agents say that the forced entry demonstrates an intentional act to sabotage the system that would have made the hospital vulnerable if there had been a fire, which they believe was the original intent of the person or persons who forced open the door.

Chávez added that this is the third attempt this year at the hospital and in all three cases his department was notified after the fact. He demonstrated anger when telling the story to reporters of how his department only received a fax from the Departamento de Ingeniería at the hospital advising him of the short circuit problems.

Chávez was clear in his message to hospital staff and authorities that they have a responsibility to advise on any situation that places lives in danger.