At 2am on July 7, 1995, local residents, hospital staff and emergency service personnel helped evacuation efforts which resulted in saving the lives of patients in the hospital at the time. 

The fire began in the ceiling above the kitchen and the Nursing Home section of the hospital. 

The quick thinking action of nurses Debbie Aird and Robyn Campbell saw them quickly evacuate patients, either on beds or dragged on mattresses to a safe area.

Local policeman Senior Constable Peter Watson, one of the first on the scene, was struck by a section of falling ceiling, however was saved by two firefighters. 

The incident attracted a huge media contingent to Boorowa and made national headlines. 

The majority of vital medical equipment was saved however the total cost of the damage was estimated to be $900,000 at the time. 

Boorowa Fire Brigade captain Leon Barton praised the efforts of all involved at the time. 

“They did a great job. The efficient way in which they responded to the emergency was due to the training that had done in fire safety and evacuation,” he told a press conference at the time. 

Fundraising efforts and government support saw the complete refurbishment of the hospital and within two years, a new hospital was constructed. 

This July sees the 20^th anniversary of the new hospital. 

The new hospital was rebuilt in July 1996 and the Boorowa Hospital Auxiliary will commemorate the anniversary with a Chicken, Champagne and Canape Cocktail Party at the Boorowa Ex-Services Club on July 30, 2016. 

Contact Jenny Carter or Judy McGuiness for more information. 

The Boorowa News will bring you more coverage on the anniversary throughout July, looking back on reports from 1995.