Fire at Tauranga Hospital mental health unit

There was a fire at Tauranga Hospital on Sunday night. PHOTO/FILE

UPDATED 11.09am: Thirty-three patients were evacuated after a fire in the Tauranga Hospital Acute Mental Health Unit last night.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board clinical director of mental health and addiction services Sue Mackersey said a small localised fire about 5.45pm in the unit activated the building's sprinkler system and was quickly extinguished.

"Thirty-three patients and staff were evacuated and the fire service and police attended. Nobody was harmed in the incident and patients and staff returned to the building 45 minutes later.

"The room where the fire took place sustained smoke and fire damage. There was no damage to the remainder of the building and services have not been affected.

"The circumstances surrounding the fire are being investigated."

EARLIER: Tauranga Fire Brigade were last night called to a fire at Tauranga Hospital, believed to have started in the mental health unit.

A fire northern communications spokesman said the fire started in the roof space of the mental health unit about 5.45pm.

He said the hospital's sprinkler system put the fire out and the fire brigade helped with clean up.

Patients were returned to the unit before too long, he said.