City of Madison firefighters extinguished a fire that caused heavy damage to an eastside home early Saturday morning. The first crews arriving on scene reported a house fully engulfed with flames reaching twenty feet into the air above the roofline.

Neighbors reported the fire at 1218 Artisan Drive to the 911 Center and fire units were dispatched at 1:42 a.m. Firefighters from Station 8 arrived within four minutes and attacked the fire with several hoselines. Fire crews searched the home to confirm that everyone was out of the building.

Nobody was home at the time of the fire. One occupant returned home before firefighters arrived and entered the house. He received minor burns to one hand before he was driven out of the house by the smoke and flames. Two dogs that were in the house at the time of the fire are missing.

The American Red Cross is assisting one resident with temporary housing and personal needs.

Damages are estimated at $250,000 and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Make your home safe by taking these simple steps:
• Have working smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside the bedroom door, and on each level of the home.
• Test your smoke alarms each month.
• Make a home escape plan and practice it by having a home fire drill with everyone in your home.
• IF THE ALARM SOUNDS...
o If the smoke alarm sounds, get out and stay out. Never go back inside for any reason.
o If you have to escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your way out.
o Call the fire department from outside your home.