May 10--Employees at the Capital Newspapers building at 1901 Fish Hatchery Road were evacuated for about one hour Friday evening after a fire caused damage in the building's compressor room.
The building's sprinkler system functioned as it was meant to and put out the fire, publisher John Humenik told employees outside the building shortly after 6 p.m. However, smoke from the fire traveled widely through the building's ventilation system, he said.
About 35 employees from Capital Newspapers, the Wisconsin State Journal and The Capital Times were safely evacuated from the building, Humenik said.
There were no injuries.
Madison firefighters inspected the building and allowed employees back inside shortly after 7 p.m.
The building's large compressor room holds equipment used to run the newspapers' presses and other machinery.
One of three compressors was damaged, and first-floor offices in the building suffered some water damage, Madison Fire Department spokeswoman Bernadette Galvez said.
Operation of the newspaper's presses was not affected, Humenik said.
The fire department estimated damage at $25,000.
Night city and sports reporters and editors moved temporarily to the building next door, at 2001 Fish Hatchery Road, to continue work for Saturday morning's newspaper.
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