Columbus firefighters say a house fire yesterday afternoon on Pearl Street was sparked by a discarded cigarette.

Firefighters found a front porch and a home’s siding on fire when they were called to the 900 block of Pearl Street at about 5:25 p.m. yesterday afternoon, says Capt. Mike Wilson, spokesman for the fire department. As firefighters arrived, a neighbor extinguished the blaze with a fire extinguisher.

Fire inspector Matt Noblitt discovered that the blaze was sparked by a cigarette discarded near combustible materials on the porch. After discussing the situation with the tenant, it was determined to have been accidental.

The porch and siding received about $2,000 in damages in the blaze, Wilson said.