Notre Dame high school evacuated after false alarm

Notre Dame Regional High School was evacuated briefly Wednesday morning when fumes from a new heating unit set off an alarm.

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded and checked the building, and students were allowed back in after a brief time.

Brad Wittenborn, the school's assistant principal, said fumes are often released when new units are first turned on.

"We called the fire department as a precaution, and everything worked just as it should," he said. "The fire department responded well and the kids responded well with the alarm. It was good practice."

The false alarm came the day after a fire caused significant damage at Cape Girardeau's Blanchard Elementary.

Pertinent address:

265 Notre Dame Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO