Apartment Fire Displaces Seven Residents

An apartment fire on Saturday night left seven people without a home and caused damage throughout the three story building. City of Madison firefighters were called to 420 S. Baldwin Street at 9:43 p.m. When the first unit arrived, they reported no smoke or fire showing from the outside. A fire crew entered the building and encountered heavy smoke when they reached the second floor. They located a fire in the laundry area of the apartment and quickly extinguished the flames. Their quick response and knockdown stopped the flames that had extended out of the window and were spreading into the eaves. The fire was under control within ten minutes, but caused approximately $125,000 damage to the building and contents. The second floor apartment received heavy fire damage in the laundry area and smoke damage throughout the apartment. A third floor apartment also suffered smoke damage. Firefighters ventilated the smoke from the three apartments and contacted Madison Gas and Electric to disconnect the building's electrical service. Six people and several cats that lived in the building escaped without injury. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Firefighters remind everyone of these safety tips: • Install smoke alarms on every level of the home, in each bedroom, and outside each bedroom. • Test your smoke alarms every month. • Make an escape plan and have a fire drill to practice your plan. • When the alarm sounds, get out and stay out. • After you have escaped, call 9-1-1 from a safe place. • Never go back inside the building for any reason.