The smoke billowing from the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house on North Langdon Street was so intense, you could smell it eight blocks away.
One firefighter was injured, but no students were hurt.
The fire destroyed the house, according to a fraternity member. 25 students must now find alternate places to live.
Madison police officer Angie Dyhr spotted the fire around 11:40pm. She saw a burning glow from the back window of the white building, and thought it was a BBQ grill.