Columbia Fire Department responds to residential structure fire, July 5

At 4:30 a.m. Sunday, July 5, Columbia Fire Department (CFD) companies were dispatched to a report of a large fire in the 600 block of Tara Lane. The address and sole structure on the unimproved road are in an inaccessible, remote section of property near Columbia's Hominy Creek Trail.

While en route, the first dispatched company was able to immediately see a large amount of smoke emanating from the area. However, due to the location of the fire and limited street access, the exact location of the fire was not immediately available. After receiving additional information from 911 callers, the next-closest companies were dispatched at 4:40 a.m. and the first CFD firefighter located the source of the flames by walking to the building and was on scene within eight minutes.

The unimproved road and a single narrow bridge restricted fire apparatus from using traditional access routes. Additionally, due to the property's rural nature and remoteness, no fire hydrants were available for firefighters to use as a water source. A grass fire unit and water tender were provided by the Boone County Fire Protection District (BCFPD) to assist.

Once crews were able to access the structure, they located a former two-story residence on the ground and fully involved in fire. Due to the extensive fire damage throughout the home, firefighters immediately began a defensive attack to limit fire spread and contain the flames to the building of origin.

The firefighters' efforts were strictly focused on protecting the adjacent wildland area and containing the damage to the already destroyed structure. There were no occupants home at the time of the fire and there were no reported injuries.

A total of 25 fire personnel responded to the scene.

Columbia Fire Marshals were dispatched to the scene to investigate and the origin and cause of the fire is undetermined.

CFD would like to thank the BCFPD for their assistance in 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.