Balcony Fire the Result Of Improperly Discarded Cigarettes
Madison, WI
A fire that damaged the exterior siding of an east side apartment was caught before it could cause more significant damage thanks to a passerby who saw the fire from Highway 30.
The Madison Fire Department was dispatched to the area of Thompson Drive after a motorist saw flames coming from an apartment in the distance. Police in the area confirmed the smell of something burning but could not pinpoint the location. Eventually, Engine Co. 13 located a burning ember on the ground in front of an apartment building on the 200 block of N. Thompson Street. Smoke wafted along the soffit line of the building. A porch on the third floor appeared to be on fire.
Firefighters entered the building and made their way to the unit. An occupant had already put some water on the fire and Engine 13 applied more to finish the job. Crews checked for extension within the attic and walls and confirmed the fire was out.
The fire was traced to a small ash tray and plastic bucket where cigarettes were discarded. Damage did not extend into the interior of the building, and the occupants were not displaced by the fire.