Jaymie Baxley | The Robesonian | Lori Dove, vice president of post-acute care at Southeastern Health, said the fire the damaged Gibson Cancer Center on Saturday was "devastating."

Contributed photo | A fire that broke out at Gibson Cancer Center this morning caused extensive damage to the facility’s $3 million radiation oncology wing.

Jaymie Baxley | The Robesonian | Representatives from Southeastern Health said they were grateful for the firefighters’ swift containment of the blaze.

Contributed photo | Thirty firefighters from Lumberton Fire Department and Northwoods Fire Department responded to the fire, as well as emergency responders from Lumberton Rescue and EMS. Firefighters were still at the facility at 9:30 this morning extinguishing hot spots.

LUMBERTON — Gibson Cancer Center was heavily damaged by a fire this morning, forcing 40 cancer patients to travel outside Robeson County for treatment.

No one was injured during the fire, which began around 7 a.m. Its cause is unknown.

The blaze caused extensive damage to the center’s radiation oncology wing, which has been open for about a year. A firewall prevented the fire from spreading to the rest of the building, according to Lumberton Fire Chief Paul Ivey.

“It could have escalated and been a lot worse,” Ivey said.

Opened in 1995, the facility is the only outpatient cancer treatment center in Robeson County. In addition to radiology, the Pine Run Drive center offers chemotherapy, biotherapy, support groups and special events for cancer patients and their caregivers. It serves about 150 patients.

The radiation oncology wing of Gibson Cancer Center opened July 17, 2014, as part of a $6 million expansion to the site.

Lori Dove, vice president of post-acute care at Southeastern Health, said it will be several months before the badly charred building will reopen.

“It’s devastating for out patients, community and staff,” Dove said. “These people that we’re treating are fighting for their lives and we have to fight just as hard for them.”

Although the extent of the damage inside the building is unknown, Dove doubts that one of the center’s most prized pieces of equipment, a $3 million Versa HD Linear Accelerator, can be salvaged. Patient records were likely devoured by the blaze as well, though most of those documents have been backed up in a digital database.

“We do have insurance and nobody was hurt,” Dove said. “That’s the important thing.”

Southeastern Health has arranged for its patients to receive treatment at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville. Other services will be administered from the old Southeastern Orthapedics building on Oakridge Bulevard in Lumberton, according to Dove.

About 30 firefighters from Lumberton Fire Department and Northwoods Fire Department responded to the fire, as well as emergency responders from Lumberton Rescue and EMS. Firefighters were still at the facility at 1 p.m. extinguishing hot spots.

Because of the remaining hotspots, firefighters were unable to enter the building and determine the cause of the fire.

According to Ivey, hotpots in commercial buildings are more difficult to extinguish because firefighters have to work around large heating units and other equipment.

“It’s just a complicated fire to get to,” Ivey said.

Representatives from Southeastern Health said they were grateful for the firefighters’ swift containment of the blaze.

“Their efforts prevented further damage,” said Amanda Crabtree, spokesperson for the organization.

Joann Anderson, president and CEO of Southeastern Health, was on the scene.

“It’s great to live in a small town because everyone rises to the occasion,” Anderson said. “Our commitment is to have this back open as quickly we can.”

Thirty-five people inside the neighboring WoodHaven Nursing, Alzheimer’s and Rehabilitation Center were moved to a different wing as a precaution, but the fire did not cause any damage or injuries at that building. Patients were allowed to return to their rooms at 10:25 a.m.

A hotline has bee set up for Gibson Cancer Center patients and their family members. The hotline can be reached at 910-671-5599.