Malfunctioning Kitchen Fan Causes Small Fire Downtown

A caller reported hearing an alarm and seeing smoke coming from a nearby apartment window Wednesday morning when they called the Madison Fire Department for help.
 
Engine 4 heard the smoke alarm when they arrived but few people had evacuated the building. Upon entry, they met a maintenance worker who had entered a third floor apartment when he heard the smoke detector activate.
 
He was met with an unusual sight: A cooking pot on fire containing utensils… and the components of a ventilation fan. The maintenance worker successfully put out the fire with an extinguisher just as the Madison Fire Department arrived on scene.
 
Engine 4 and Ladder 1 investigated for fire extension and damages, and they began ventilating the apartment.
 
They were able to contact the resident, who reported leaving the kitchen fan on. Fire crews determined that the fan’s motor malfunctioned, started on fire, and dropped onto the stovetop along with the fan’s screen cover. The oven was turned off at the time.
 
The fire was primarily contained to the pot on the stove and the kitchen fan. There was minimal damage to the cabinet above the fan. Estimated damage costs have not been determined.