1 Dead Following Apartment Fire

City of Madison firefighters responded to 6425 Bridge Road this afternoon at 3:45 p.m. after neighbors reported smoke in the building. Engine Company 3 arrived on scene and observed smoke coming from patio doors to a second floor apartment. Upon entry into the building, crews encountered smoke in the hallway. Firefighters advanced a hose line into a second floor apartment and were met by heavy smoke and flames. The occupant of the apartment was carried into the hallway, but was unable to be resuscitated. The fire was knocked down at 4:05 p.m., but rekindled again more than an hour later. Firefighters returned to the scene to extinguish the fire. The fire apartment, an adjacent apartment and the apartment directly below the fire suffered significant damage. No one else was injured. 20 occupants in the 32-unit, 2-story building have now been displaced by the fire. Damages are still being calculated, and the cause remains under investigation. The Red Cross - Badger Chapter sent a team to the scene to assist residents.