Two-alarm blaze in Madison damages fire trucks, melts vinyl siding like butter; What caused it?

MADISON (WITI) -- Fire crews remained on the scene overnight, and into Saturday, August 9th following a massive structure fire in Madison Friday night, August 8th.

According to the city of Madison's website, the fire was reported shortly after 7:30 p.m. Friday from drivers on I-90 -- who saw the flames and smoke.

"The fire was so intense, and it rose so high in the sky that ashes were falling miles from here," Madison Fire Lieutenant Larry Grab said.



The blaze could be seen from miles away -- and the fire was so big -- it was even showing up on weather radar!

The fire occurred on Apollo Way and Lisa Ann Drive -- in the GrandView Commons neighborhood.

We're told the fire occurred in a 105-unit apartment building currently under construction.

According to the city of Madison's website -- the first crews arriving at the scene saw smoke and flames coming off the back side of the building -- on the third and fourth floors from a half-mile away.

Those crews upgraded the blaze to a two-alarm fire.

Madison Fire Lieutenant Larry Grab was first on the scene.

"As we rolled in, that fire has pretty much filled the third and fourth floors," Lt. Grab said.

An engine crew connected to a hydrant and pulled a hose line -- but the company officer reports that by the time they got the hydrant charged, fire conditions had worsened to the degree that plastic on the engine was melting -- and window glass was breaking due to the heat.

"I've never been to a fire as intensely hot as this. Multiple, multiple big fires -- but nothing this intensely hot," Lt. Grab said.

According to the city of Madison's website, crew members quickly detached from the hydrant -- and moved the engine.

Because the building on fire was under construction and vacant -- with the third and fourth floors fully engulfed, firefighters adopted a defensive strategy to protect the occupied dwellings near the structure.

"I went over to the radio and announced 'this is a defensive fire. Nobody goes in.' It started melting our light up here. It started melting the things on our pump panel. It was so hot, it broke the glass in the upper window there, and it distorted the glass in the upper window here,'" Lt. Grab said.

According to the city of Madison's website, homes across the street had melted siding and cracked windows due to the heat.

Firefighters kept a steady stream of water on those homes to keep them cooled and prevent structural damage.

"The big thing is nobody is hurt and I think we're very fortunate to save these houses," Lt. Grab said.

Temperatures reached more than 250 degrees -- and firefighters were needed to protect the exposures and lines that were set up to spray them and keep them cool enough to maintain their exposure protection lines.

Callers to Madison's 911 Communications Center reported intense heat, falling debris and grass fires along the interstate, and at various points across the east side for up to an hour after firefighters were initially dispatched to the scene.

Crews had the fire under control shortly after 9:30 p.m. -- but they continued to battle hot spots.

Eleven Madison Fire Department units responded to this fire -- including a new station, which just came online weeks ago.

Two crews remained on the scene overnight -- to battle hot spots.

On Saturday, pallets of building materials across the one to two acre fire scene continued to smolder.

The cause of this massive blaze remains under investigation.

Fire investigators are working with Madison police and investigators from the State Fire Marshals Office -- and the Bureau or Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives -- a common practice with a fire this large.

Damages have not yet been calculated.

Fire investigators are looking to get in touch with anyone who may have pictures or video of the blaze.

If you have photos or video -- you're asked to call (608) 266-4420 -- and leave your information so that you may be contacted by investigators.

The Madison Fire Department is working on establishing a website for folks to upload photos and videos of the fire.

CLICK HERE for more from the National Weather Service.

CLICK HERE to access updates on the city of Madison's website.