Fire Department

An east-side Madison family was on the prowl for Pokémon Thursday, scouring Demetral Field for each elusive character.

It was a little early for Zubats to be out, and the only Pidgeys in the park were merely sparrows. But they did stumble on something unexpected after all: Smoke rising from the playground wood chips.

As Engine Company 3 rolled in, one of the parents smothered the fire with sand. Firefighters followed up with a good soak of water.

There were no clues left behind to help firefighters determine what started the fire. Perhaps the family had just missed their chance to capture that fire-wielding reptilian Pokémon, Charmander.

Pictured: Possible suspect