Discarded ashes ignited a fire on the porch of an Anson home Saturday, drawing firefighters from three communities to fight it, authorities said Monday.

Anson fire Chief Stacy Beane said that shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday a passerby had spotted smoke coming from a porch at 54 Preble Ave. and had stopped to dump snow on it with his hands while calling 911.

Beane said a person who lives in the home had discarded some wood stove ashes by leaving them in a pan on the wooden porch.

“It happens more than people realize,” Beane said. “A lot of the time it’s wood fires when we don’t have snow on the ground. We try to remind everybody when you take the ashes out, make sure they are cold or take them far away from your house and don’t set them on your front or back porch or whatever.”

Beane said she never saw the pan; it may have been destroyed when it fell through the porch into the dirt basement.

Fire damage was limited to the porch that was on an addition; some smoke was inside the house, but it was ventilated. Beane said the family was able to remain in the home.

Because of the cold conditions, Beane said, she had to call the highway department to sand Preble Avenue.

In addition to Anson, firefighters from Madison and Starks also responded, as did Anson, Madison and Starks Ambulance Service.