MADISON (WKOW) -- Three people and two cats were displaced after basement fire on Madison's east side Friday morning.

The fire was caused by an unattended candle in the basement, according to Madison Fire Department Spokesperson Cynthia Schuster. No injuries were reported.

Firefighters were called at 7:58 a.m. to the 500 block of Ludington Avenue for a reported fire.

Two people were in the home at the time and were alerted to the problem when a smoke alarm went off. Both of them were able to evacuate safely with one of their cats.

As crews approached Ludington Avenue, they saw smoke from several blocks away, prompting the addition of another fire engine and ambulance to the call.

Command Car 31 arrived first to find heavy smoke showing from the outside on the first and second floors.

Occupants met firefighters outside and said there was still another cat in the house. Firefighters were able to rescue the second cat right away, unharmed, Schuster reported.

Upon entering the home, firefighters quickly encountered high heat and no visibility due to the amount of smoke.

The decision was made to exit the home and attack the fire from the outside.

Crews broke the basement windows and sprayed water into the basement. Once the fire was knocked down well enough to improve conditions inside the home, firefighters went back into the house to fully extinguish the fire.

The fire was contained to the basement, but there is extensive smoke damage throughout the house.

Fire investigators confirmed the fire was unintentional and was caused by an unattended candle in the basement.