MADISON (WKOW) -- Authorities say a fire at the University of Wisocnisn-Madison's Memorial Union caused about $10,000 in damages.
Fire and police officials were called to the Memorial Union on Langdon Street for a report of a fire inside the Union Theatre which is currently undergoing renovations around 7:40 a.m. Monday.
UW police say Madison firefighters were able to control and extinguish the fire limiting the amount of damage to approximately $10,000.
An investigator with the University Police Department says the cause of the fire was due to a construction worker involved in demolition inside the theatre. The worker was using a cutting tool and accidentally ignited some flammable materials in the area.
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MADISON (WKOW) -- Madison fire officials are investigating what caused a fire on the University of Wisconsin-Madison's campus Monday morning.
Officials say a fire caused extensive damage at the Memorial Union Theater. Firefighters were called to the scene at 7:38 a.m.
Within minutes the first crew arrived on the scene and reported a large amount of smoke coming from the side and roof of the building. At that point, additional firefighters and equipment were called to the scene.
Fire officials say they were told by construction workers that a fire had started near the ground level of the theater. The flames quickly traveled up the space behind a wall and entered the large attic space above the theater. A fire crew entered the building and saw fire burning along the walls near the ceiling of the theater. They quickly put out the flames and began searching for access to the attic. Once in the attic, fire crews found a large amount of fire burning in the smoke filled attic. They extinguished the fire and began searching for any hot spots in the walls and ceiling of the attic.
Officials say the fire was declared under control fifteen minutes after firefighters arrived on scene.
Fire officials say one firefighter became ill on the scene and was taken to UW Hospital.
Authorities say their investigation is ongoing. No cause or damage estimates are available at this time.
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MADISON (WKOW) -- Madison fire officials say the fire at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Memorial Union is out.
Fire crews were called to the Memorial Union Monday morning around 7:40 a.m. Officials say the original call reported that the first five rows of seats in the Union Theater were on fire; however, that was not the case.
Fire officials say the fire was in the theater attic. They believe the fire was started by cutting tools used by the construction workers there.
As of 8:30 a.m., the fire was out, but fire crews remain on scene checking for hotspots.
No injuries were reported. Students are allowed back in the Union where construction is not taking place.
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MADISON (WKOW) -- Fire crews responded to the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus Monday morning for a fire at the Memorial Union.
Dane County Communications say they received the call at 7:38 a.m. Monday. No other information is being released at this time.
A 27 News crew is on scene. Stay with www.wkow.com for more on this developing story.
Photo credit: WKOW viewer Dan Paulus
