Columbia Fire Department responds to commercial structure fire, June 29

At 7:32 a.m. Monday, June 29, Columbia Fire Department (CFD) companies were dispatched to a commercial structure fire in the 1600 block of Hinkson Avenue.

CFD companies arrived within three minutes of initial dispatch to find smoke showing from the second story of a three-story apartment complex.

While residents of the complex were evacuating, firefighters located a small fire on a balcony in the rear of the building and immediately initiated fire attack. Thanks to the rapid response from multiple CFD companies arriving within minutes of dispatch, firefighters were able to simultaneously limit damage to the structure while ensuring occupant safety and preventing the fire from spreading to additional areas. The flames were contained to the area of origin and firefighters had the fire safely under control within approximately three minutes of arrival.

All occupants of the unit had safely evacuated prior to CFD arrival and there were no reported injuries.

A total of five fire companies, two chief officers, one safety captain and one fire marshal with 19 personnel were dispatched to the scene.

The Columbia Fire Marshals Battalion has conducted an investigation into the origin and cause of the fire and determined the most probable cause of the fire to be improperly discarded smoking materials on the deck area.

City of Columbia Vision
Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.

City of Columbia Mission
To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.