On Friday, March 20, at 9:56 a.m., Columbia Fire Department (CFD) companies were dispatched to a residential structure fire in the 1900 block of Newton Drive.

A CFD battalion chief arrived within three minutes to find flames and heavy smoke coming from a two-story duplex. The first fire company arrived one minute after and immediately entered the structure to simultaneously search for residents and conduct fire attack.

Firefighters located high heat and heavy fire in the interior of the structure. With additional personnel, they were able to successfully extinguish the flames in just four minutes of arrival and searched the entire space for possible victims. Crews remained on scene for approximately two hours to complete overhaul of the structure to confirm extinguishment and assist the Columbia Fire Marshals Battalion with their investigation.

The occupants of the structure had self-evacuated prior to CFD arrival and one resident was transported to a local hospital via ambulance due to an unrelated injury.

A total of five companies, three battalion chiefs, a safety officer and a fire marshal, comprising 22 personnel, responded to this incident.

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.