Fire Department

A Madison woman arrived home Friday afternoon to the sound of something “popping” in the rear of her house and a strong smell of smoke. Initially she thought a neighbor must be grilling nearby. That was until her neighbor informed her that her house was on fire.

As 911 was called, one person grabbed a fire extinguisher. Fire was still active inside a screened-in porch when Ladder Company 2 arrived. Firefighters doused the rest of the flames with a pressurized water can and garden hose. The fire was contained to the area of origin.
The fire occurred near a cage occupied by a pet tortoise. The tortoise was taken to an emergency veterinary hospital but ultimately did not survive its injuries.

The exact cause of the fire is undetermined, but investigators concluded it was an unintentional fire. Investigators could not rule out an unspecified electrical fault near the area of origin or the possibility that a hot lamp came in contact with nearby combustible materials.

No human occupants were injured or displaced by the fire.