ST. LOUIS • Firefighters were called to the Peabody Opera House Wednesday morning to put out a small fire that started as workers were doing renovation work there.

Dozens of workers evacuated the building after the fire started about 11 a.m.

The opera house is set to open this fall after renovation work is complete. Formerly the Kiel Opera House, the venue has been closed for 20 years.

Fire officials said sparks from a drill ignited glue that workers were using to install sound baffles in an upper-floor crawl space. As a result, about 17 feet of duct work and insulation caught fire and filled the area with smoke.

Workers said an announcement over a public address system inside ordered everyone out after the fire started; some said they said they could see smoke pouring into one of the upper hallways as they evacuated.

Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson said no one was hurt and firefighters put out the fire quickly. Some firefighters were already inside the building when the fire started because they were there testing the fire alarm system.

Jenkerson said the department dispatched extra manpower because of today's dangerous heat.

"They did a great job on a hot day," he said. "The firemen really took a beating today. It's hot, and you put all this gear on and it gets worse."

Fire officials said workers resumed work shortly after the fire was out.

In a statement, an opera house spokesperson said the fire will not significantly disrupt renovations.

St. Louis Blues chairman Dave Checketts, the main leaseholder of the opera house, called the fire "very unnerving."

"Fortunately, the news is that all the (fire-alarm) systems worked," Checketts said. "We've installed all new alarms, and the fire department was notified right away, and when they got there, they did a great job."

Jeremy Rutherford of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.