At 12:27 p.m. Wednesday, City of Hays emergency dispatchers were notified of a structure fire at 503 Elm, Apt. A1. The Hays Fire Department, assisted by Ellis County Fire Department Company 5, Hays Police Department and Ellis County EMS, was immediately dispatched.

Arriving firefighters found a window air conditioner unit burning inside an apartment building. Firefighters had to force entry into the apartment. One hose line was used to control the fire. The fire was contained to the kitchen area of the apartment. After the fire was extinguished, firefighters used ventilation fans to remove the smoke from the adjacent apartments.

The most probable cause of the fire was a malfunction of the AC unit’s electrical outlet.

Six firetrucks and 19 firefighters responded. The last crew left the scene at 2:29 p.m.

“Thanks to the effort of alert neighbors that called 911 the damage was minimal,” the HFD said in a news release. “Your Hays firefighters would like to remind everyone of the benefits of having working smoke alarms in your home.”

— HFD