MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Madison officials are investigating an arson Tuesday afternoon after a man allegedly lit a pallet home on fire at the city’s tiny-home encampment, according to the Madison Police Department.
City of Madison Fire Department officials reported seeing heavy smoke of the city-sanctioned campground around 1:15 p.m. on the 3200 block of Dairy Drive, which is across from city Fire Station #14. The pallet home was burned to the ground by the time crews arrived.
MPD reported its officers arrived on scene minutes after fire crews. Police allege a resident of the community lit his own cabin on fire and report that they have not arrested the man, according to an incident report.
According to staff at the encampment, the cabin burned down quickly. Firefighters extinguished the remaining flames from the fire.
No one was injured as a result of the fire and no other homes were damaged. Fire officials estimate the fire caused $15,500 in damage.
In a statement from Community Development Division Director Jim O’Keefe, he explained that local law enforcement and fire officials are working to investigate more details on the alleged arson.
“The City, in partnership with local service providers, established this campground to provide safe accommodations for people without other housing alternatives,” O’Keefe stated. “Their well-being, as well as that of surrounding business and home owners, remain of paramount importance to us.”
O’Keefe also explained that while there have been “few problems reported” in the past five months since the site has been open, there have also been positive experiences of around half of dozen people receiving access to permanent housing.
“That is our ultimate goal at Dairy Drive,” he continued. “Today’s incident should not detract from these early successes. The public can be confident that when all the facts surrounding today’s incident are known, City and support service officials will respond appropriately.”
NBC15 has a crew at the scene and will update this story as details develop.
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