CO Alarm Alerts Neighbors to Kitchen Fire

A carbon monoxide alarm alerted occupants to a kitchen fire in a neighboring duplex unit this morning. City of Madison firefighters responded to the fire at 6515 Tottenham Road at 11:15 a.m. Firefighters didn't immediately see fire when they arrived, but upon closer inspection, crews observed that the windows of the residence were smoke-stained. This is one of the signs of possible backdraft, an extremely dangerous condition for firefighters. Ladder Company 7 called for an additional response to ensure fire ground safety. When Ladder 7 began their fire attack, they found that the fire had begun to snuff itself out in the tightly closed structure. Crews had it fully extinguished within minutes of their arrival. The fire appeared to have started in the kitchen and there was significant heat damage to cabinets. No one was home on that side of the duplex at the time of the fire, and there were no injuries. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation. Damages are estimated at $30,000.