Building evacuated due to fire at UNCG

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Authorities say a grass fire prompted them to evacuate the Elliott University Center Thursday afternoon at UNC Greensboro. 

The fire was reported around 12:30 p.m. in the 500 block of Stirling Street.  Firefighters had extinguished the flames by 1 p.m. 

While the fire did not spread to any buildings, Helen Hebert with UNCG says the Elliott Center was evacuated as a precaution due to smoke.  

UNCG police say the fire may have started as a result of a discarded cigarette that was tossed into a bed of plants. 

The fire did not cause damage to any buildings, police said.