Residents of a campus-area transitional housing facility were able to return to their homes shortly after the shelter experienced a devastating fire that displaced dozens of its members Jan. 13.

Porchlight, a community housing organization that provides food, counseling and shelter to homeless people in the downtown area, reopened its North Brooks Street location doors to the approximately 80 evacuated residents Jan. 14 and 15, executive director Steven Schooler said. Twelve residents, whose apartments were severely damaged by the fire, smoke and water, were not able to return.

Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, said the nearby St. Francis Episcopal Student Center agreed to postpone its construction of a student high-rise to instead house the displaced residents.

“This is a great neighborly gesture by the church,” Resnick said.

Porchlight residents were also able to stay overnight at a shelter set up by the Red Cross at West High School Jan. 13, Schooler said.

Schooler said the nearby placement at St. Francis is beneficial to the residents for reasons beyond just shelter. 

“It’s really a fabulous thing because not only does it allow us to put all the displaced persons in a building all together, but it also puts them someplace near Porchlight to allow us to continue our program work with them,” Schooler said.

Schooler said Porchlight hopes to return the 12 displaced members to their homes by early March.

Eric Dahl, spokesperson for the Madison Fire Department, said officers responded to the scene Jan. 13 at 6:40 p.m., and had it under control 20 minutes later. The fire reportedly occurred on the second floor of the west wing of Porchlight, where the heaviest damage was found.

Three residents were taken to the hospital because of smoke inhalation, Schooler said. Two have since been released.

Schooler said Porchlight employees are in the process of cleaning debris from the damaged west wing and reconstructing apartments that were lost in the fire.

“We are going forward,” Schooler said. “It will be tight to get it done by March, but we are trying in every way to do what we can.”

Fire and water damage was centered on the first and second floor of Porchlight’s west wing, Dahl said. Smoke damage occurred throughout the building because of the building’s ventilation systems. Dahl said initial estimates of Porchlight’s damage caused by the fire were near $750,000.

Fire investigation specialists are conducting an investigation to determine the specific cause of the fire. Specialists will review statements from occupants of the building and their own observations, Dahl said.

Resnick said Porchlight is dealing with the damage well and expects a quick recovery.

“It is a tragedy,” Resnick said. “It’s really unfortunate knowing the valuable services Porchlight provides to the city, but it’s great to hear that they’re quickly recovering.”