Burning tobacco reportedly starts house fire

The Austin Fire Department helped extinguish a house fire Tuesday morning before the home suffered much damage.

Austin police and firefighters went to the 2300 block of 14th Street SW in Austin at 8:29 p.m. where smoke was coming out of windows on the northeast side of the house. According to the police report, an off-duty firefighter was already spraying water from a garden hose at the house and informed other firefighters the family and dog were already out of the house.

According to the fire department, the fire was started by either a cigarette or tobacco pipe that ignited a pile of clothes in the northwest corner of the northeast bedroom. Firefighters stayed on scene for 52 minutes before calling it safe.

Damage estimates are unknown.

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