From Fitchburg Fire Dept:
Just before 8:00 am on Wednesday, September 25, the Fitchburg Fire Department received notification of a possible structure fire in an apartment building on the 4500 block of Thurston Lane in the City of Fitchburg. The initial call into the Dane County Communications Center (911) was made by a City of Fitchburg Police Officer who was in the neighborhood and was alerted by two children who noticed smoke coming from the building. A second call to 911 came shortly after that from residents of the building reporting a fire in their unit.
Fitchburg units were on scene within minutes, with crews confirming smoke showing. After entering the building, they confirmed an active fire in a 2nd floor apartment. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire quickly, but not before it extended to a neighboring unit. The two 2nd floor apartments have heavy fire damage, and the two apartments directly below have heavy water damage.
The first arriving police officer did confirm that the audible alarm was sounding in the apartment where the fire started, and the building alarms started sounding in common spaces shortly after she starting alerting other apartments. This building is not equipped with a sprinkler system.
The cause and exact origin of the fire is unknown at this time and is under investigation. No injuries were reported. Red Cross and Salvation Army were requested to provide assistance for affected residents and on-scene personnel.
Mutual aid was provided by the Town of Madison Fire Department, McFarland Fire Department, Oregon Area Fire & EMS, City of Madison Fire Department, Verona Fire Department, Middleton Fire District, FitchRona EMS, and the Fitchburg Police Department. The Village of Maple of Bluff Fire Department staffed an engine at Fitchburg Firehouse #1.