Butler City fire department responded quickly to a small fire outside of Branded in Butler's storefront at 126 S. Main St. on Wednesday, June 28. Submitted Photo

Firefighters responded to a small fire underneath a sign outside the Branded in Butler storefront at 126 S. Main St. on Wednesday, June 28.

Butler resident Anna Beebe was on a bench outside the building before the fire department arrived.

“I was just sitting here and I kept smelling smoke,” Beebe said. “There was just a little bit of smoke coming from the sign.”

Beebee said a bystander walking on Main Street made the call to emergency services.

“It smelled real bad,” Beebe said. “I thought the building was on fire (from the back).”

Firefighters were able to put the fire out with a pressurized water fire extinguisher, according to Butler City Fire Captain Kevin McAfee.

“It was just some mulch underneath the sign,” McAfee said.

While the cause of the fire is undetermined, McAfee believes it was likely caused by a cigarette butt.

“It was most likely a cigarette,” McAfee said. “There’s not evidence to point to that as were unable to find a butt around the area, but that is what makes the most sense.”