Investigators search for cause of west side Madison fire

UPDATE (WKOW) -- Eighteen people aren't in their homes Monday night after a fire burned through a condominium on the west side of Madison. 

The fire began at Greystone Condominiums on Cricket Lane off Old Sauk Road around 10:30 in the morning. 

A landscaper working across the street saw the fire first ignite. 

"I seen some black smoke smothering out of the rooftops of the vents and through the shingles," said the landscaper, Mitchell Engebretson.  

Engebretson saw the fire and felt he needed to help. 

"I called 9-1-1 and I talked to dispatch and then a lady and I started knocking on doors making sure everyone was out of the house," Engebretson said. 

Despite the situation, he says he wasn't scared. 

"I think I was more anxious to make sure there was nobody in the house because the fire was out of control," said Engebretson. 

Madison Fire Chief Steven Davis says when they arrived just a few minutes later, everyone was out of the building. It took about an hour to get the fire under control. 

"I suspect there's probably some smoke damage and maybe a little bit of water damage throughout the building just because there was a significant amount of fire in the attic," Davis said. 

Some people won't be able to live in their apartments anytime soon. "About a third of the building will have a long-term displacement the other two thirds of the building that was saved will probably be inhabitable within a day or two," Davis said.  

Everyone has been accounted for, including pets. There were no injuries or fatalities. 

Damage estimates are not available yet and the fire is still under investigation. 


Content Goes Here