Chaos erupted at the Nashville Veterans Affairs Medical Center Monday afternoon as a fire broke out on the building's roof, leading to an evacuation but fortunately no injuries, officials said. According to WKRN, the smoke was first spotted billowing from the rooftop before 4 p.m., and the Nashville Fire Department swiftly responded to the scene to contain the situation.

The fire, which officials attributed to an overheated generator located on the hospital's roof caused a stir among patients and staff, as areas of the facility were promptly evacuated and the nearby traffic flow was disrupted, as crews worked on the scene firefighters were ventilating the residual smoke on Monday afternoon. "The impacted areas were evacuated and no injuries were reported," the Nashville Fire Department posted on social media, a statement also noted by WSMV.

Despite the fiery scare, a spokesperson for the VA confirmed that the hospital had been secured and was safe for re-entry. "The hospital is safe to enter, and officials continue to assess damages," Public Affairs Officer Hannah McDuffie assured in a statement obtained by WKRN. The VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, which includes the Nashville campus as well as the Alvin C. York Campus in Murfreesboro and numerous clinics, is well accustomed to addressing healthcare needs ranging from primary to specialized tertiary care—a testament to their rapid emergency response capabilities showcased in this incident.

In the aftermath of the blaze, hospital officials began the work of reaching out to patients whose appointments might be affected, as operations commenced to return to normalcy, the fire's impact was limited with damage being contained to the roof, while officials worked diligently to ventilate the smoke and assess the full extent of any potential damages. "Patients will be contacted as soon as possible should their appointment be impacted," stated a release from VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System.