A cigarette is the likely cause of a fire this morning at the Ambassador Apartments at 334 Jarvis St., in Ypsilanti.
Lt. Mike Kouba of the Ypsilanti Fire Department says the fire occurred just before 10 a.m. Saturday on the first floor of a three-story apartment building when the railroad ties on the patio caught fire.
"A resident of the apartment was sleeping and had no idea what was going on," said Kouba.
Kouba said the cigarette may have been discarded from the apartment above the night before, and after smoldering for hours started to burn.
No one was injured. There was minor smoke damage inside the apartment. Total damage is estimated at $1,000.