A fire at Christchurch Hospital this morning was sparked by workers using a grinder.
Firefighters rushed to the hospital after the fire about 11.30am today, Sergeant Lindsay Turner of police southern communications said.
"From what we understand there's some workmen there and they've set fire to some ducting up on the top floor. They'd been doing some grinding work.
"It's been a full turn-out because it's a public hospital and lots of people involved."
Mr Turner did not know whether the whole hospital had been evacuated or whether the fire was under control yet.
The Fire Service was not immediately available for comment.
