BUTLER TWP — Hot ashes appear to have caused a basement fire on Fairlane Drive in Meadowood Wednesday afternoon.

Township Fire Marshal Larry Christy said one of the occupants at 101 Fairlane Drive, owned by David and Jean Lloyd, dumped an ashtray into a plastic waste container in the basement.

Christy said the resulting fire melted the container and spread to the basement’s carpet.

A neighbor, whose name was unavailable, rushed down to the basement and extinguished the blaze.

When firefighters arrived, the neighbor emerged from the basement carrying another container holding burning material.

Firefighters cut out a piece of carpet that was smoldering. Thermal imaging equipment was used to ensure there were no flames remaining.

Christy said the fire left smoke and soot throughout the two-story home.

“The whole house was full of smoke,” he said.

Christy said there was at least $5,000 in damages

Although all the township’s fire departments as well as Penn Township’s initially responded to the 1:31 p.m. 911 call, only Meridian firefighters were needed to assisted the South Butler Volunteer Fire Department at the scene.

Crews left by 2:16 p.m.