Structure fire, grass fires lead to advisory from Ellis Co. Rural Fire

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

A lit cigarette discarded in a flower pot ignited a house fire on the 1400 block of Schoenchen Road Saturday evening.

According to Chief Dale Befort of Ellis County Rural Fire Co. Five, crews responded to the call shortly after 5:30 p.m. and were able to quickly extinguish the fire, limiting damage to the porch and front part of the house.

Befort said “the home is still livable.”

No injuries were reported.

Befort said crews also responded to two small grass fires Saturday.

The first report came in at 1:30 p.m in a ditch on U.S. 183 Bypass just north of 27th Street, and the second occurred at 1300 Feedlot Road, also contained to a ditch.

Befort advised the community to be careful when discarding cigarettes outside.

The scene of a grass fire in Hays at O'Loughlin Elementary. — The scene of a grass fire in Hays at O’Loughlin Elementary.

“We need people to know it is very dry now and not to throw cigarettes out of the car,” he said.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, between 87 percent and 96 percent of grass fires are related to the “careless disposal of hot embers, ash or cigarettes,” which also is the leading cause of fire deaths.

For tips on safely discarding cigarettes, visit the NFPA website HERE.

The aftermath of another small grass fire was seen in Hays Saturday on Hall Street near O’Loughlin Elementary School.

Check Hays Post for more as details as they become available.