El Paso firefighters responded to a house fire in the Upper Valley around 9:30 a.m. Monday. 

According to fire officials the fire sparked in the 600 block of Nenna Court on a back yard porch. 

The porch caught fire when a can, containing hot ashes inside, caught a cardboard box close by on fire.  The flames spread to the patio and into the living room from a back window, said fire investigators.

Their  investigation revealed that the homeowner had cleaned out the fireplace the night before and placed the burning ashes in a metal can outside underneath the porch. 

They said the house had heavy smoke damage throughout.  Damages reported were $10,000.

Fire crews were able to control the fire and put it out. 

No injuries were reported.

Fire officials recommend ashes should be stored outside in a metal container with a tight fitting lid, away from structures, decks, fences, wood piles or other combustible materials and should be wet down. Ashes retain enough heat to ignite other combustible materials for up to four days after a fire, according to them.