Madison Fire: Propane source may be to blame for condo explosion

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - Investigators believe a propane source in the garage of a Madison condominium unit may be to blame for a Tuesday evening explosion.

The City of Madison Fire Department stated in an update that it does not believe the explosion was intentional and noted that its investigation is not complete yet.

The MFD Fire Investigation Team worked with members of ATF, DCI and the State Fire Marshal’s Office to clear debris from the area, on the 900 block of S. Gammon Road, and try to determine what caused the explosion.

Madison Gas & Electric spokesperson Steve Schultz said crews tested the area and found no evidence of a gas leak. MGE was released from the scene after the area was secured and will assist in the investigation as it is needed.

Four people were injured following the explosion. Nineteen crews responded to the eight-unit building, and many of them remained on the scene well into the night.

Volunteers from the American Red Cross helped several adults out of at least 21 people, who according to MFD, were displaced.

Dan Schillinger, a Red Cross spokesperson said, “Some people are able to take care of their own needs, and some people need assistance, and we’re there always to make sure that the people who need assistance get it.”

A neighbor who lives across the street from the condo said he and his family were eating dinner as they heard the explosion go off.

“I have a three-year-old and an 11-month-old,” Jesse Pruett said. “At first pretty scared needing to be calmed down and then processing to figure out what’s going on. Definitely a lot of processing as a family together.”

Among the four who were injured, one was taken to the hospital by firefighters, while three others went there on their own, the MFD report indicated. A mom and her two toddlers were three of the four people who were hurt and are now okay.

The fourth person injured is in “good” condition, according to a UW-Health official.

The fire department’s Heavy Urban Rescue Team stabilized the gutted homes enough for search teams to begin looking for any trapped victims. At 10:30 p.m., they were able to confirm no one was still inside the structure and no other injuries have been reported. The blast forced the closure of a stretch of South Gammon Road, a west side artery, until after midnight.

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