Aaron Schroder was walking from Charlie Yokes early Saturday morning when he noticed a small fire in a dumpster on Stanton Avenue.

Schroder, and witness John Boland, both explained that the fire first appeared small, but after hearing several “booms” inside the container the fire quickly grew until the flames engulfed the dumpster.

It was then that Schroder ran into 301 Stanton, which was unlocked, and began pounding on doors.

“I was yelling ‘hey, your dumpsters on fire, get out!'” Schroder said, who does not live at the building. 

Brandon Amerine, who was sleeping inside the house with two other individuals, heard Schroder pounding on the doors.

“I heard ‘get out, get out,'” Amerine said, who explained they had no idea who was pounding on the doors, but they did leave the house.

Outside, Boland called the fire department.

The Ames Fire Department responded to three separate dumpster fires Saturday morning.

The first was called in at 1:53 a.m. for a dumpster fire at 1318 Walton Drive. The second was the call from Boland for the fire at 301 Stanton Avenue at 2:03 a.m. And the third was reported at 2:24 a.m. for 304 Lynn Avenue.

David Whitaker, of the Ames Fire Department, confirmed that all fires had been contained just after 3 a.m. He also reported knowing of no injuries at that time.

Arson has not been confirmed, but an investigation is in progress.

Heat from the flames on Stanton caused siding to melt off the side of the house, but members of the fire department said the residents would be able to return to the house after everything was checked.