FIRE and rescue crews, from Farnham, Rushmoor and Odiham were called to Spire Clare Park Hospital in Farnham last Wednesday following a suspected fire, after a fault with an MRI scanner caused it to release helium.

It is known as a ‘quench explosion’, where the pressure builds and lets off what appears to be smoke, when in fact it is just steam.

The MRI scanner thought it was on fire and when this happens the machine releases helium to act as a safety precaution and sends a message direct to the emergency services.

The incident was nothing major and no-one was taken off ward or evacuated during the process.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue received the call at 7.57pm on Wednesday evening.

A spokesperson said: “We sent a team from Rushmoor and there was also two others from other areas. The MRI machine overheated and started to release helium.

“Gas monitoring equipment which was despatched from our Basingstoke unit, was used to check the levels of gas to make sure it was not harmful or hazardous to anyone on site. We left the scene at 9.21pm.”

The MRI scanner wasn’t up and running again until Thursday.