Fire Department

Around 4:45 pm, residents called Dane County Dispatch reporting smoke and flames from their 8 unit apartment building. Ladder 7 and Engine 7 were the first on scene, reporting that smoke could be seen from blocks away. As they arrived at the building, they reported heavy flames coming from the upper units along Allied Drive. 
Crews used a transitional fire attack to knock down the flames from the exterior before moving inside with hand lines.  The fire moved into the attic and then quickly in the void space.  Crews then pulled ceiling in the apartments to gain access to the attic space where the bulk of the fire was burning. A ladder company vertically ventilated the roof as flames came through the vent hole. Once crews were able to get water into the attic space the flames were quickly extinguished. Salvage and overhaul efforts were lengthy to conserve personal property and to extinguish any hot spots in the building.
All residents we able to evacuate the building safely and no injuries were reported. Two cats were rescued and Medic 7 placed both cats on oxygen using the specialty pet masks carried by the crews. One cat which appeared to be in distress when removed from the building, improved after being treated with oxygen.
Damage estimates were not immediately available, but significant damage occurred to the roof and upper units. All 8 units were uninhabitable and Red Cross assisted the residents with temporary housing and their recovery needs.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.