UPDATED Wednesday, March 20, 2013 --- 10:22 a.m.

Press Release from the Madison Fire Department:

City of Madison fire investigators have determined that a house fire Monday at 4425 Vale Circle was caused when a towel draped over a halogen floor lamp ignited.

Paramedics transported a 17-year-old male to Meriter Hospital. He had entered the bedroom where the fire started in an attempt to extinguish the fire with a bucket of water. He was treated and released.

The 17-year-old was visiting a friend who lives in the home. The two were downstairs when they smelled smoke and saw it coming from the bedroom.

Firefighters located the fire on the second floor of the two-story, single family home, quickly extinguishing the fire with a water extinguisher, and preventing it from reaching the attic.

There were no working smoke alarms in the home. The fire caused smoke damage throughout the second floor, with light smoke damage on the first floor. Damages are estimated at $20,000.

Halogen lights have a higher risk of fire than regular incandescent lights or fluorescent lights. Halogen lights are a type of incandescent light that provides 8% more lumens (more light) per watt than regular incandescent lights.

The City of Madison Fire Department reminds residents:
- Install smoke alarms on every level of the home, in each bedroom, and outside each bedroom.
- Test your smoke alarms every month.
- Make an escape plan and have a fire drill to practice your plan.
- When the alarm sounds, get out and stay out.
- After you have escaped, call 9-1-1 from a safe place.
- Never go back inside the building for any reason.

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Posted Monday, March 18, 2013 --- 5:37 p.m.

Press Release from the Madison Fire Department:

City of Madison paramedics transported a 17-year-old male to the hospital late this afternoon following a house fire at 4425 Vale Circle.
Firefighters were dispatched to the home at 4:15 p.m. Two males in the home at the time had evacuated. The patient who was transported to Meriter Hospital was not believed to have life-threatening injuries.

Crews located the fire on the second floor of the two-story, single family home. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire.
One of the young men tried to douse the fire with a bucket of water prior to the arrival of firefighters, but was unsuccessful.

There was significant smoke damage throughout the second floor, with moderate to heavy smoke damage on the first floor. Fire crews reported no smoke alarms sounding.

Damages are estimated at between $20,000 and $25,000. The cause remains under investigation.