TOOELE — A house in Tooele was damaged by fire Saturday despite its owner's attempt to put out the fire with a garden hose.

Police responded to a call around 9:50 a.m. to a home near 500 W. 670 North and arrived to find "extensive smoke pouring from the home" and the homeowner trying to subdue the flames with a garden hose, said Tooele County Sheriff's Patrol Sgt. Steve Gowans.

Gowans said the home's only occupant, a woman, was standing outside the home with the garden hose when they arrived, followed shortly by the fire department. He said the fire department was able to contain the fire to the master bedroom, where they believed the fire started.

Officials said the fire was started by cigarette ashes that had been emptied into a trash can near the woman's bed. When the woman returned from a trip to McDonald's, the home was ablaze. Gowans said the ash must have caught "some material" on fire before spreading to the bedspread and then the entire room.

There was "significant smoke damage" to the home, as well as water damage in the bedroom and the basement below. Gowans didn't know whether other portions of the home were intact or what the total monetary damage was.

The woman lived alone at the home, and EMTs at the scene said they believed she entered the building while it was on fire as she had smoke residue on her face, though she was evaluated at the scene and was in good condition.

The Red Cross responded to the incident and was able to provide the woman with shoes, clothing and "a place to stay for a few days," said Red Cross spokeswoman Susan Thomas.

— Emiley Morgan