At approximately midnight on Friday, the Cape Girardeau Fire Department was called after the fire alarm sounded in Dearmont Hall on Southeast Missouri State University's campus.

A student said four fire trucks arrived at the building as the students evacuated.

"I was on my boyfriend's floor and the power on his floor, D1, wasn't working. Smoke alarms went off, and we went out his door. There was so much smoke," Southeast student Shannon Eckert said. "I think it was D2 by what people are saying, but I'm not sure. They [firemen] were on the roof a second ago."

Eckert said students outside the building speculated that the smoke was caused by an electrical issue but resident assistants in Dearmont were unable to confirm.

At approximately 12:45 a.m. on Saturday staff allowed students in wings A, B and C to reenter the building. Residents living in wing D were also allowed back inside but were being contained in a common area until the floors were ventilated.