2 Dogs Dead, 3 People Displaced After Apartment Fire

Two dogs died and three people were displaced following an apartment fire on Madison’s east side Thursday afternoon.

Firefighters were called to the 3100 block of Forest Run Way at approximately 2 p.m. after a resident in a lower unit alerted authorities to the smell of smoke, according to the Madison Fire Department.

The incident caused an estimated $100,000 in damage to the four-unit complex. While no humans were injured in the blaze, the loss of the two pets marks a somber outcome for the displaced residents, who were not home at the time the fire ignited.

Upon arrival, fire crews encountered thick black smoke emanating from a second-floor apartment. Several neighbors had reportedly attempted to intervene and rescue the dogs before firefighters reached the scene, but the intensity of the smoke forced them to retreat.

Once inside the unit, firefighters discovered the fire localized to a living room sofa. They utilized a water can to extinguish the flames, preventing the fire from spreading further throughout the structure. The department said that the residents’ decision to keep bedroom doors closed played a significant role in limiting the damage, as those rooms remained largely spared from the heat and fire that devastated the living area.

The American Red Cross has been contacted to provide temporary housing and essential supplies for the three displaced individuals. As of Thursday, the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Madison Fire Department continues to investigate the specific ignition source of the sofa fire.