Fire Department

Fire investigators determined this fire was accidental in nature and caused by improper care and handling of grilling materials.

Occupants report using their charcoal grill Saturday evening to cook dinner. The grill was situated against the house, which is lined by vinyl siding, on a wooden deck. At one point, the fire inside the grill grew too large, and some coals were discarded into nearby landscaping. At the end of the night, the ash catcher/lower vent beneath the grill was left open. All of these could have been contributing factors in igniting the fire which ultimately caused an estimated $300,000 in damage.

Charcoal or other solid-fueled grills are involved in 1,300 home fires per year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. In the City of Madison, all grills are to be used at least 10 feet away from buildings and other combustible materials and should not be used on wooden decks or patios.

Make sure charcoal has been completely extinguished before disposing the ashes or storing the grill. It could take up to 72 hours for hot coals to completely cool. Charcoal and ashes should be disposed of in a metal container or other container that cannot catch on fire. Always close the ash catcher/lower vent so hot ash and embers do not spill from the grill.

For more tips, visit our Outdoor Grilling Safety Tips page and review our Grill Guidelines. More information is also available from the NFPA.

--PIO Cynthia Schuster

The Madison Fire Department was called to a home in the 4600 block of Gray Fox Trail around 4:30 this morning. The homeowner discovered that the back of the house was on fire and flames were coming from the roof. The occupants quickly evacuated and called 911.

When firefighters arrived they made sure that all of the occupants were accounted for and began an aggressive exterior attack using two ladder trucks. Action was taken to protect nearby homes from the fire. After about 20 minutes the fire was knocked down enough to allow firefighters to enter the interior of the home. Crews advanced with two hand lines and did a search of the house to confirm that no more people were inside.

Firefighters continued to work until shortly after 6:00 am to fully extinguish the remaining hotspots. The cars parked in the garage were able to be saved but the fire caused extensive damage to the roof and attic areas.

No residents were injured in the fire but they will not be able to stay in the home. Investigators are beginning the process of determining the cause of the blaze and there is not an estimated cost for the damages to the home at this time.