Fire Destroys Sigma Phi Epsilon House at Wisconsin-Madison
Fire Engulfs UW-Madison Fraternity House
Firefighter Taken To UW Hospital
UPDATED: 8:02 am CDT May 13, 2008
MADISON, Wis. -- Madison firefighters battled a fire at a fraternity house on Langdon Street early Tuesday morning.
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SLIDESHOW: See Photos Of Langdon Street House Fire
The blaze started around midnight at a three-story house in the 200 block of Langdon Street, near the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Hundreds of students gathered outside and watched as the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity appeared fully engulfed in flames.
About 14 fire trucks and close to 50 firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, WISC-TV reported.
Dane County Sheriff's Department said that the house residents have all contacted each other and so far it's believed all of the house's occupants made it out safely. Fire crews haven't been able to do a full search of house. Officials said that about 25 residents are displaced, WISC-TV reported.
Three firefighters suffered minor injures. One was taken to University of Wisconsin Hospital.
Authorities said that the first fire call came in at about 11:40 p.m. A Madison police officer in the area said he noticed a glow coming from inside the fraternity house and went to investigate. Upon discovering the fire, the officer helped evacuate everyone inside.
Neighboring houses were also evacuated as a precaution, authorities said.
Fire officials said that as the blaze continued, the structure became unstable and fire crews were forced out around midnight because of concern that it could collapse.
Flames could still be seen at the house at about 1:40 a.m. and fire officials said the blaze was brought under control about 2:30 a.m.
The house's occupants lost their belongings in the midst of final exams at UW-Madison. Fraternity alumni board member Ryan Sugden said that a semester's worth of notes and books were among the students' belongings lost in the fire. He said that over half have finals on Tuesday.
Authorities said that no cause has been determined. The Fire Department said that there was $750,000 in damage.
Officials warn this is just another example of how important fire safety is.
"Please have a fire escape plan, two ways out of every room. It's your responsibility to make sure smoke detectors work," said Bernadette Galverz of the Madison Fire Department.
This is the same frat that was in the news last week for allegations of hazing.
According to the fraternity's Web site, this house had $500,000 in damage from an early morning fire on June 17, 1999.
Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.
Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
4/1/07 - As is the annual custom, The Illinois Alpha chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon sent men on a service trip this past Spring Break. Run through Habitat for Humanity, the 36 Sigep gentelmen were busy all week long working four 8-hour work days building houses for those in need.