At 3:05 p.m. Thursday, city of Hays emergency dispatchers were notified of a structure fire at 2212 E 15th. 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 the house fully engulfed in flames. Fire crews placed three hose lines in service to control the flames.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Hays Police Department assisted by the Hays Fire Department and an investigator from the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Five firetrucks and 17 firefighters responded. The last crew left the scene at 9 p.m.

“Your Hays firefighters would like to remind everyone to call 911 promptly when a fire occurs,” the HFD said in a news release. “Fires can grow and spread very quickly. Having the fire department on the way as soon as possible can help to limit the damage from a fire.”