Sauna fire likely caused by candle, officials say

MADISON, Wis. — A candle likely caused a sauna on Madison’s near east side to catch fire Tuesday morning, fire officials said.

Crews were called around 9:50 a.m. to the 200 block of Merry Street for reports of a fire inside a backyard sauna, according to a release.

Firefighters could see brown smoke coming from the eaves and around the door of the structure, officials said. Firefighters put the fire out with water and foam.

A majority of the heat damage occurred in the front half of the sauna, where users enter it, according to the release.

The owner told firefighters the sauna was used about 12 hours earlier, and he believed a candle may have started the fire, officials said. Firefighters noted the burn patterns were consistent with a candle fire.

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