From the Wisconsin State Journal:
Madison fire officials today said a good working smoke alarm system allowed the residents of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house on Langdon Street to save themselves before fire consumed the building.
Fire officials estimated the damage to the three-story building at 237 Langdon St. to be at least $750,000, including the contents.
Madison Fire Department spokeswoman Bernadette Galvez said the alarm system in the building, which was built in the 1890s, had been regularly maintenanced. "The alarms were sounding," Galvez said. "We didn't have to rescue anyone."
The blaze, which was reported at 11:41 p.m., was extinguished at 2:28 a.m. She said a police officer driving past the house saw a glow in the back of the house and reported the fire.
Galvez said the fire is believed to have started in the rear of the house, but investigators will release a preliminary report later today.
Fire units remained on the scene this morning because officials feared the fire could be rekindled by wind blowing through collapsed ceilings and igniting hot spots in the building, Division Chief Arthur Price said.
Officials weren't sure how many of the house's 28 residents were in the house, but no injuries were reported.
...Around midnight, most of the visible flames were toward the back of the house, but the blaze spread quickly and by 12:15 a.m., flames could be seen spewing into the sky from every floor.
"The fire was just a mess on top there," she said. "Sometimes when it gets up to the attic, there's no stopping it."
Madison firefighters were then ordered to withdraw from the house due to safety concerns, according to Galvez.
...Three firefighters were injured. Two were taken to UW Hospital and one to Meriter Hospital. The injuries consisted of a minor burn, dehydration and a muscle strain, Galvez said.
After firefighters were evacuated, they began spraying the house and the neighboring buildings using hoses that pour out 1,000 gallons per minute. "That means it's an intensive fire," Galvez said. "When you see these flames and you see these ladders, you know the damage is really, really bad."
Ryan Sugden, who lived in the house from 2003-05 and is now on the Sigma Phi Epsilon alumni board, spoke on behalf of fraternity members.
"Over half of them have finals tomorrow," he said. Gone are a semester's worth of notes and books, he said.
"I think the entire situation is tragic. Thankfully no one was hurt. But it's occurring during a very difficult time," he said.
Ald. Eli Judge, whose 8th District represents many students and includes the house, also said the timing makes it even more difficult. "There's no good time for a fire, but this is definitely an awful time," Judge said.
Fraternity members said they were shocked as they huddled together in circles away from the blaze. They were later gathered onto a Metro Transit bus, where UW-Madison Dean of Students Lori Berquam and Red Cross members assisted them.
The loss of the house and its contents is horrible for current fraternity members, as well as alumni.
It's awful that students lost their books and notes during finals, and everything else they had in their home.
The fire certainly takes an emotional toll on alumni, so many memories. While nothing can take the memories away, the house is gone. They can't return.
Thank God the smoke alarm system operated successfully.
No lives were lost. No one was seriously injured. As bad as the fire is, it could have been so much worse. Everyone is safe.
I think I'll go test our smoke alarms.
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Video here.
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