HFD

At 3:47 p.m. on Saturday, the City of Hays Fire Department, assisted by the Hays Police Department and Ellis County EMS, was dispatched to a building fire at 4602 Hoover Drive. The Ellis County Rural Fire Chief was first on scene and found a fire at the rear of the building.

A neighbor had observed smoke coming from the building, called 911 and alerted the occupant. Using a garden hose, they had the fire under control when firefighters arrived. The fire had started in outside ground litter, extended to the wooden stairs and burned through the outside wall into the structure. Firefighters had to open up the wall to extinguish smoldering fire. Firefighters then covered the opening to prevent further damage until repairs can be made.

The fire was most probably caused by improperly discarded smoking materials. The fire grew rapidly in the windy conditions present at that time.

Five fire trucks and 16 firefighters responded. The last firefighters left the scene at 4:45 p.m.