BEATRICE – Beatrice Firefighters were summoned to an east Beatrice home where a small fire started in an exterior wall, Saturday afternoon.

Acting Captain Jeff Vanwinkle says the fire started in the outside wall of a home east of 27th and Ella, at the rear part of the house.  

Vanwinkle said the fire on a deck in the back yard, was thought to be caused by discarded smoking material.  Smoking material had been stored in plastic bottles.

One fire truck and police went to the scene at around 3:25 p.m.  Vanwinkle said firefighters had to cut open a wall on the exterior of the home to make sure flames had not advanced inside the house. 

Firefighters estimated about $5,000 exterior damage to the home but there was no fire damage inside.  Firefighters used a fan to air out some smoke from inside the house.   They left the scene at 4:37 p.m.