The Bedford Institute of Oceanography estimates it will cost $100,000 to clean up damage from a small fire that burned through the wall of an electronics workshop yesterday.

The fire started on the outside of the building and spread inside, prompting sprinklers to go off.

Leo Lohnes, the facility's manager, said several people working in neighbouring buildings spotted the smoke and called for help before alarms went off.

Lohnes credits the Halifax fire department, which arrived in about four minutes, for stopping flames from spreading further.

"I thought the damage would be a lot worse," he said. "But the response time from the fire department was very quick. They were able to put the fire out very quick."

Damage inside BIO was minimized by the quick response of firefighters, BIO says. <a href="https://t.co/emdEcVPhAN">pic.twitter.com/emdEcVPhAN</a> —@carolynraycbc

The 17 technicians who normally work in the maintenance shop were working on a ship, so the fire didn't affect any work. The hope is to have the damage cleaned up by the end of the week.

"It's basically a lot of water, a lot of smoke and the exterior," Lohnes said.

The air will be tested to make sure the room is safe, but the rest of building remains open for staff.

The fire department is investigating the cause of the blaze.

Six crews with about 20 firefighters arrived at the fire around 4:35 p.m. Sunday. Nobody was inside the building at the time.

The acting division commander of Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency said there was extensive water, smoke and heat damage in one room, and fire damage up to the top of the building's exterior.