A dark plume of smoke rose high above north campus Tuesday afternoon after what started as a small brush fire on the north end of Farm Lane grew to a nearly two-story blaze west of the Natural Science Building.

"One of our officers was out and she noticed it smoking," MSU police Sgt. Jill Geile said.

The officer initially was able to control the fire with an extinguisher she keeps in her police cruiser, but the flame did not go out completely, Geile said.

Police officers blocked off a portion of Farm Lane, and East Lansing firefighters arrived on the scene within 10 minutes after the call was announced over the scanner.

East Lansing firefighters Mike Montgomery and Jeff Lund were able to extinguish the blaze in a matter of minutes using a single hose.

There was no other noticeable damage.

The cause of the fire was unknown, but Geile said she thought it was "most likely a cigarette or something of that nature."