Fire Department

Although fire investigators continue to investigate the cause of this fire, they have determined it to be accidental. Damage is estimated at $85,000.

After initial fire knockdown described in the previous narrative, Medic 8 located additional fire in the ceiling of the basement just beneath the laundry room. Engine 8 supplied them a water can extinguisher, and Medic 8 put out the ceiling fire. A thermal imaging camera also revealed to Engine 5 that fire might still be present in the clothes dryer. Ladder 8 had a line ready, opened the dryer, and put out that fire. Firefighters unplugged the dryer and moved it out of the house. The attic was checked for additional fire, but only heavy smoke was found.

The condo suffered major smoke damage throughout its interior. Other than a brief natural gas outage, the adjacent unit was not impacted.

Two people are displaced, but nobody was injured, after a fire broke out at an eastside condo.

The Madison Fire Department responded to the 6300 block of Maywick Drive at 10:45 a.m. after a caller reported a fire in the laundry room. Specifically, they believed the dryer in the laundry room exploded. One occupant opened the laundry room door, saw smoke, and immediately closed it back up before she and her husband evacuated the home through another exit and called 911.

Upon arrival, Engine Company 5 confronted heavy smoke and fire showing above the garage door. Firefighters made initial attack from the overhead garage door and knocked down all visible fire in the garage.

With the garage fully charged with smoke, visibility was only possible with the aid of a thermal imaging camera to guide firefighters toward the location of the fire.

Crews proceeded to an interior door connecting the garage to the residence, and Engine Company 13 began attacking the seat of the fire. Initial knockdown was achieved at 11:07 a.m., but firefighters continued to put out additional spot fires in adjacent floors and ceilings. All firefighting and overhaul operations were complete by 11:33 a.m.

Everybody, including a pair of insulation contract workers that had been working inside the condo, safely escaped the fire without injury.

Fire investigators are examining how the fire began and whether the dryer was indeed involved. Damage estimates are not yet available.