DURHAM — A “butt bucket” was blamed for what was first thought to be a house fire at 177 Pinkham Brook Road on Tuesday afternoon, fire Chief Bill St. Michel said.

A passing motorist was the first to spot the smoke coming from Charles Hart’s home at around 3 p.m. and alerted the Fire Department. Lt. Andrew Levesque was the first to arrive and found no fire. However, the enclosed porch and the inside of the large, two-story, wood-frame house was filled with smoke. Hart was not at home. Two dogs were found uninjured.

It was quickly determined that the smoke came from a burnt carpet where a large ashtray was sitting, but there was no fire damage, St. Michel said.

Firefighters vented the smoke from the home and cleared the scene at 3:45 p.m. Firetrucks from Durham and Lisbon went to the scene.