Campus Police Praised for Quickly Extinguishing Fire at UW-Madison

Video shows officers using fire extinguisher to put out blaze in campus building

Jan. 30, 2026 at 8:07am

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Two campus police officers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison were praised for their quick response and actions in extinguishing a small fire that broke out in a campus building over the weekend. Footage shared by the UW-Madison Police Department shows Officers Szarny and Kepdra using a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze in Nolan Hall.

Why it matters

The prompt actions of the campus police officers likely prevented the fire from escalating and causing more significant damage to the UW-Madison campus. Their response highlights the important role campus law enforcement plays in maintaining safety and security on college campuses.

The details

According to the video, the two officers responded to the fire at Nolan Hall, with one stating "There's no sense in letting the place burn down." They then quickly used a fire extinguisher to put out the small fire, which appeared to be located inside a heating unit.

  • The incident occurred over the weekend at the UW-Madison campus.

The players

Officer Szarny

A campus police officer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who responded to and extinguished a fire on campus.

Security Officer Kepdra

A campus security officer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who responded to and extinguished a fire on campus alongside Officer Szarny.

UW-Madison Police Department

The campus police department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which shared the video of the officers extinguishing the fire.

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What they’re saying

“There's no sense in letting the place burn down.”

— Officer Szarny, Campus Police Officer (UW-Madison Police Department)

The takeaway

The quick actions of the campus police officers in extinguishing the fire highlight the important role law enforcement plays in maintaining safety and security on college campuses. Their prompt response likely prevented the fire from escalating and causing more significant damage.