The Badger Herald

NEWS

Accidental blaze wrecks building

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City agency to run Halloween entertainment (May 10, 2007)

by Courtney Johnson

Monday, May 7, 2007

An early morning fire on North Hamilton Street caused an estimated $500,000 in damage to five apartments and the Pincus McBride Market and Deli Sunday.

Investigators at the Madison Fire Department believe the fire started accidentally after hot embers fell from a lit charcoal grill on the building's roof. The grill's tray, which is supposed to catch the embers, was not attached to the grill.

Fire Department officials also found about 10 Black Cat fireworks on top of the grill, but investigators still believe the main cause of the fire was the charcoal grill.

Bernadette Galvez, public information officer for the MFD, said firefighters had to pull down the ceiling on the top level of apartments in order to reach the fire that was burning in the building's attic.

"The roof is gone — you can see right through to the sky," Galvez said.

The rest of the building's damage mainly stemmed from the water that was used to put out the flames, which were estimated at 20 feet high.

"Because of all the water that was used to put the fire out, it gravitated down throughout the light fixtures and through the plaster and just soaked the building," Galvez said.

Since the Pincus McBride Market and Deli is located on the first floor of the building, it mostly sustained water damage from the incident.

According to the MFD, the fire has displaced 14 residents, some of whom are University of Wisconsin students.

"I think most of them were staying with friends, but the American Red Cross was making arrangements to put them up in hotels if necessary," said Common Council President Mike Verveer, who arrived at the building at about the same time as the MFD.

Verveer said he saw flames and smoke coming from the roof and attic area when he arrived.

Pincus McBride is currently closed, mainly due to water damage, but also because power needed to be shut off to the building. The Health Department is expected to come tomorrow to inspect the building before the deli reopens.

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