A fire just after 5p.m. Wednesday in Hays was likely caused by a tossed cigarette.

Hays firefighters, police and Ellis County EMS responded to a building fire report at 19th and Oak Streets at 5:07p.m.

According to Fire Chief Gary Brown, a fire was burning in the garden mulch next to the house at 116 East 19th Street and then spread to the house exterior.

Firefighters used a fire extinguisher to quickly control the fire and one hose line was used to completely put it out.  The home’s interior was not damaged.

Brown says the most probable cause of the fire was discarded smoking materials in the dry mulch. “Fortunately a neighbor spotted the smoke and promptly called 9-1-1.”

This is the third outside fire that has spread to a building in Hays this year. Brown urges residents to carefully dispose of smoking materials and to have working home smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.