Brief: Cigarette Blamed for Fire at Lexington Heights

The Mendota Heights Fire Department put out a fire at Wednesday night that was likely caused by a cigarette.

No one was injured.

A 9-1-1 call from a resident came in at 8:05 p.m., reporting a fire had started on his third-story balcony. 

Dispatch instructed the resident to pull the fire alarm and evacuate the building.

According to Police Chief John Maczko, the cigarette likely smoldered for some time before igniting. It spread into a side wall of the balcony, complicated the department's efforts, he said.

Responders cleared the scene shortly after 10 p.m.