Exeter Hospital ER Evacuated Due To Unknown Odor

EXETER, NH — Exeter Hospital’s Emergency Room has been evacuated due to a mass casualty incident, according to alerts online. Exeter Fire and Rescue teams reported being sent to the ER at just after 11:15 a.m. on Aug. 11, 2017, for a report of “an unknown odor.” NH Fire Alarm reported at just before 11:45 a.m. that more than 20 patients could be involved in the incident. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Exeter NH Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

More than 20 ambulances have been called to the scene to assist with mutual aid, according to firefighters.

David Sakowich of WMUR is reporting on Twitter that the incident has been declared a “mass casualty incident,” meaning that a significant number of people may have been injured due to the odor.

#BREAKING Skyeye4 over the scene at Exeter Hospital. Active incident going on right now, @cbsboston has multiple crews en route. pic.twitter.com/wIUPbXYx65
— Daniel Pesquera (@DPesqueraWBZ) August 11, 2017

Rockingham Alert reported earlier that the odor was reportedly caused by an anesthesia chemical leak.

Multiple ambulances lined up outside ER at Exeter Hospital for incident with 20+ patients that began as odor investigation. @UnionLeader pic.twitter.com/aBAAsqk9hc
— Jason Schreiber (@Schreibernews) August 11, 2017

Police are recommending that if residents need to seek treatment, that they find another hospital, due to the emergency.

According to alerts, hazmat teams are now searching for the source of the odor but have not found any spill or gas leak.

Exeter NH Patch will update this post when more information becomes available.