Madison firefighters responded to a downtown apartment after a domestic dispute resulted in a fire call.

Madison Fire Department spokesperson Bernadette Galvez said the firefighters responded to an alarm at 303 N. Hamilton Street at 2:36 a.m. Wednesday. Galvez said the fire is under investigation.

Although the man and woman claimed different versions of the story, both admitted they had been drinking, according to an MFD statement.

The male told firefighters he had friends over and a stray cigarette may have started the fire. He said he went to the bathroom and when he came out he noticed a lot of smoke but no flames. He said he did not know how the fire was extinguished.

The female alleged she arrived home from a bar and in an effort to “get a reaction from him,” put the male’s clothes on the couch and sent an angry text message, according to the statement.

When the male arrived home, a verbal dispute ensued, she alleged. 

According to the statement, the male allegedly grabbed a knife and held it to his throat, then cut himself. The female said she saw the male allegedly use a lighter to start the clothes on the couch on fire, then pushed the female into the fire, resulting in minor burn injuries.

The male’s injury was not severe and had stopped bleeding by the time firefighters arrived at the scene, the statement said.

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said both the Madison Police Department and MFD are conducting their own investigations into the incident.  

“Because it was a domestic situation, arrest is mandatory to provide a cooling off period,” Verveer said.

Verveer said the number one arrest in his area is domestic-related, though he added this situation is not the norm.

“The whole thing is very extreme,” Verveer said. “This situation is extremely bizarre to say the least.”