A mattress fire at Whitehorse General Hospital on Saturday morning briefly uprooted nine patients and caused more than $8,000 damage.

At 6:17 a.m., the hospital fire alarm simultaneously alerted the Whitehorse Fire Department while activating the building's sprinkler system.

According to fire chief Clive Sparks, several vehicles were dispatched from both fire halls, but the hospital's fire suppression system proved successful.

"The sprinkler system effectively extinguished the fire," Sparks told the Star today. "It did what it was designed to do."

While Sparks said the fire's cause remains under investigation, Val Pike, the hospital communication liaison, said it appeared to have been the fault of a patient.

"The patient in the room (where the fire occurred) looked like he started his mattress on fire," Pike said.

She would not comment on exactly how the fire occurred. "We're trying to figure that out right now."

According to Pike, that patient, along with eight others, was removed from the surrounding area, but all were "back in their rooms later that day."

No injuries occurred as a result of the fire, which was contained to one in-patient room at the hospital.

"The quick action of nursing staff prevented this patient and those in adjacent rooms from sustaining any injuries," said Joe MacGillivray, the hospital's chief executive officer.

"The attending nurses as well the fire department, RCMP and staff from a number of hospital departments should be commended for their work.

"There was a small amount of fire damage sustained within one room and a section of floor within this room will require repair. Water damage from the sprinkler system and from fire hoses was contained to the immediate area."

Sparks said the initial damage estimate of $8,000 may be a little low.

"I think that's going to be low because (of) smoke damage as well," said Sparks.

The chief said the department's pumper, ladder and rescue trucks attended the scene with the support of 17 firefighters.