Investigation into Apollo Way fire continues; damage now estimated at $10M

As the investigation continues into a massive fire that destroyed a Far East Side apartment building project earlier this month, authorities said Monday the blaze may have caused more than $10 million in damage.

No one was injured in the Aug. 8 fire, which leveled the four-story, 105-unit apartment complex under construction on the 500 block of Apollo Way.

The fire sent up smoke that could be seen around the Madison area, and generated intense heat, threatening nearby homes.

Because of the fires size, local authorities called in investigative help from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives National Response Team.

Federal and local authorities have interviewed 105 people since then, officials said at a press conference Monday.

Investigators are still looking into how the fire started and have a few hypotheses, Madison Fire Department Chief Steve Davis said.

Dan Heenan, an ATF special agent with the National Response Team, said some possible causes have been ruled out, including an electrical or natural gas source, since the building was not yet hooked up to those utilities.

They have not yet ruled out arson, Heenan said.

Authorities initially said the fire caused $3.5 million to $5 million in damage, but Heenan said Monday that an insurer estimated that damage was upwards of $10 million.

The National Response Team, made up of investigators from across the country, is now turning the inquiry over to local authorities from the Madison police and fire departments and local ATF office, Heenan said.

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Investigation into Apollo Way fire continues; damage now estimated at $10M