Spokesperson Cynthia Schuster said firefighters were dispatched to 30 East Campus Mall at 12:33 a.m. for a fire alarm activation. Schuster said no one was around to report the fire to 911.
Upon arrival, firefighters were met by members of the UW-Madison Police Department and UW Security.
The crew entered the building and noticed an odor of smoke. The odor was followed to a wood workshop, where the crew found the room full of smoke and an automatic fire sprinkler activated.
Beneath the active sprinkler was a burned-up garbage can and its contents on the floor. Just one sprinkler head activated, but it extinguished the fire and prevented the fire from spreading, according to Schuster.
Damage from the fire is estimated at about $2,000. Damage was contained to some paint cans, a portable electric sander, cabinets and other items.
Firefighters moved the burned items outside, ventilated the area, and turned off the fire sprinkler system.
With the sprinkler systems temporarily shut down, UW Security provided fire watch until a responsible party returned to the building.
