Madison fire officials said a house fire early Sunday morning on Bedford Street left one dead and three injured.
The three injured are UW-Madison students. The severity of the injuries has not been disclosed, but officials say they are at UW hospital being treated for burns. Fire officials said were told by the injured students that a fourth person was inside. He was declared by the Dane County Coroner after immediate family was notified.
He was found in the front room of the house,"" said Madison Fire Department spokesperson Lori Wirth, adding the young man's identity will not released until later today.
According to Wirth, the fire started around 5:35 Sunday morning at 123 N. Bedford St., just a block from the Kohl Center. She said firefighters battled flames for more than 20 minutes, but were able to contain the damage so that none of the surrounding homes were affected.
""That's a function of being there on the spot,"" Wirth said.
City Council President Mike Verveer arrived on the scene shortly after the call to 9-1-1 went through. He said he saw kids from surrounding houses running for safety.
Wirth said the cause of the fire is under investigation, but that it ""does appear to have started on the front porch."" The front of the house is charred and little remains of the front of the building. Investigators have the area taped off.
She also said the initial damage reports total more than $100,000.
The fire came just a week after 30 UW students were displaced because of an apartment fire on N. Carroll Street.
