MADISON (WKOW) – An apartment fire on Madison’s east side Friday left one person and their five pets displaced.
According to a release, Madison Fire Department crews were called to the Ella Apartments at 2860 East Washington Ave. Friday afternoon for a report of smoke coming from a fourth-floor apartment.
Crews entered the apartment and found smoke down to the floor. Firefighters knocked on doors to evacuate all fourth-floor residents.
Fire crews located a fire on a kitchen stovetop but were able to extinguish it. Nobody was home at the time of the fire. According to the Madison Fire Department, the building had automatic sprinklers, but the fire wasn’t large enough to activate the sprinkler system.
One person living in the building requested to be checked out by paramedics due to smoke exposure but was not taken to the hospital. No other injuries were reported.
All the animals were found unharmed, but fire investigators suspect this fire may have been caused by one of the cats jumping onto the stovetop, which has a flat-surface touch pad to control the burners.
The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents and their animals.
Damage is estimated at approximately $25,000.
