The Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house at 237 Langdon St. went up in flames last night. All 25 residents escaped safely, and 3 firefighters were treated for minor injuries while battling the blaze. A Madison Metro bus provided shelter for the 25 residents during the night, and the Red Cross and UW Dean of Students office was on the scene as well. The fire started around 11:40pm, and was under control by 2:38am, though firefighters were still on scene putting out embers and hot spots well into the morning. Damage was estimated at $750,000, and the cause has not yet been determined.
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- Link to the Cap Times coverage
- Link to the State Journal coverage
- Link to the Daily Cardinal coverage
- Link to the Badger Herald coverage
- Link to a live-blogged account of the fire
A total of 34 pics from the Sigma Phi Epsilon house fire follow:
May 13, 2008 - Onlookers behind the burning Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house are drenched from the spray of firefighters' hoses.
May 13, 2008 - The back of the burning Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house is virtually destroyed.
May 13, 2008 - Firefighters pump water into the back of the burning Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house in Madison, WI.
May 13, 2008 - A firefighter walks by at the scene of a fire in the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house in Madison, WI.
May 13, 2008 - Firefighters pump water into the burning Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house in Madison, WI.
May 13, 2008 - Firefighters pump water into the burning Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house in Madison, WI.
May 13, 2008 - 8th district alderperson Eli Judge takes a phone call at the scene of the Sigma Phi Epsilon house fire in Madison, WI.
May 13, 2008 - Firefighters pump water into the burning Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house in Madison, WI.
May 13, 2008 - Firefighters pump water into the burning Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house in Madison, WI.
May 13, 2008 - A firefighter works on top of a ladder truck at the scene of the Sigma Phi Epsilon house fire in Madison, WI.
May 13, 2008 - A firefighter looks on at the scene of a fire in the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house in Madison, WI.
May 13, 2008 - Firefighters pump water into the burning Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house in Madison, WI.
May 13, 2008 - Firefighters pump water into the burning Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house in Madison, WI.
May 13, 2008 - The cross on the steeple of the Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel is visible over the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house in Madison, WI.
May 13, 2008 - Residents of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity take refuge in a Madison Metro bus.
FYI on your bus shot. Not everyone there is a SigEp member or someone living in. In fact, the guy in the red on the right is Jeff Benson, one of the Greek Advisers.
Great pictures of a tragic incident.
Phil these are really incredible. Well done sir.
Very tragic for the fraternity members. But, wow, great images Phil!!
Thanks for the feedback, guys, and yeah, tough spot for Sig Ep, but glad everyone’s ok, and thanks again to the firefighters for an amazing job knocking that fire down.