No injuries reported in hospital smoke incident

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to a call from Southeast Hospital on Monday afternoon after people started smelling smoke on the third floor, said battalion chief Fred Vincel.

During a test of the hospital's emergency generators, "exhaust piping became hot and caused some roofing tar to smolder," according to a statement from Brian Gilliland, SoutheastHEALTH director of facilities and construction.

"It had the potential to be a big deal," Vincel said Monday evening, and corrective action will have to be taken to fix what caused the problem.

Eight to 10 patients were moved from the third floor of the hospital as a precaution because of the odor, the release said.

No injuries were reported.

Pertinent address:

1701 Lacey St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.