Fire Department

The Madison Fire Department was dispatched to a high rise building in the 2600 block of the West Beltline Highway last night at 8:43 PM. Madison Police reported seeing smoke in a 5th floor room as they searched for a subject who was inside the building causing damage. Firefighting protocol for high rise buildings was implemented. Upon arrival, the crew from Ladder 6 saw dense smoke in the room and found that a small fire had been extinguished by the automatic fire sprinkler system. They did a search to make sure that no people had been injured or trapped in the area of the building where the fire occurred. Arriving crews checked adjacent floors to make sure that the fire had not spread, and that there were no other fires in the building. Fire crews began to sweep water in to floor drains.
 
Meanwhile, Madison Police took a subject that was found in the building into custody. Police carefully searched the building to confirm that no other people were in the building, and to determine the extent of the damage that had been maliciously caused.
 
Fire investigators have begun to work to determine the cause of the fire which caused extensive damage to electronic and computer equipment used by the multiple businesses in the building. At his time there is not an estimate of the cost of damage, although it may be well over $100,000.