Five Escape House Fire on Madison's East Side; No Injuries

Five members of a Madison family are displaced after a basement fire at their East side home. City of Madison firefighters responded to 4045 Steinies Drive at 8:17 Sunday night. When Engine Company 5 arrived at the scene, crews observed some light smoke coming from the eaves of the single-family home. The occupants were all outside. As firefighters entered the home, they were met with thick, black smoke, banked to the floor. They made their way to the basement stairs, encountering intense heat. Working their way to the bottom of the stairs, crews initiated an aggressive fire attack, knocking the fire down in less than ten minutes. The fire rekindled briefly after it made its way into a false ceiling in the basement, but that too was quickly extinguished. There were no injuries, and the family pets - a dog, two cats , and a pet rat - were all safely retrieved from the home. Damages to the home are estimated at $50,000. The cause remains under investigation. The American Red Cross - Badger Chapter responded to the scene and is assisting the family.