Firefighters from two area departments battled an early morning blaze just outside the city limits Thursday.
The Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department was called to a residence in the 1500 block of North Park Avenue around 12:30 a.m., according to Deputy Chief Tyler Creel.
“We got a call of smoke in the laundry room and as we were en route, flames were spotted,” he said. “We immediately called the Columbia Fire Department because their engine was closer.”
Creel was among the first to arrive on the scene and said the fire was spreading as trucks arrived.
“There was heavy smoke and flames coming from the laundry room,” he said. “The home suffered heavy damage to the laundry room and hallway, but a lot of belongings were saved.”
Creel said an occupant of the house saw the smoke and immediately called 911. She escaped the flames unharmed, though AAA Ambulance Service was called to stand by at the scene.
Columbia responded with one engine and three firefighters and Tri-Community brought three engines, a tanker and a squad truck. Nearly a dozen TCVFD volunteers worked the scene.
“We had the fire under control within about 10 minutes of getting on the scene,” Creel said. “Everybody made a really good stop on it. The cooler weather actually helped us.”
Creel said the report was not complete as of Thursday morning and did not have the owner’s name.
Firefighters cleared the scene around 2:30 a.m.
“We’re not sure of the cause,” he said. “It will possibly be something in the laundry room.”
Pictured Above: Firefighters arrive on the scene early Thursday to battle flames on Park Avenue. | Photo by Mark Rogers
