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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;"> 201 Orr Street
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Columbia, MO 65201</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">January 19, 2024</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Jeffrey Heidenreich
<br />Assistant Fire Chief
<br />Columbia Fire Department
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.874.7513
<br />Jeffrey.Heidenreich@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Columbia Fire Department responds to an overnight house fire with one fatality in the 3900 block of Deerfoot Way, Jan. 19</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display: inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Friday, Jan. 19, at 12:03 a.m., the Columbia Fire Department was dispatched to the 3900 block of Deerfoot Way after several 911 callers reported a house on fire.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first crew arrived in under seven minutes to a medium-sized two-story residential structure with an attached garage. There was fire throughout the entire garage, which had spread into the house and attic above. The first crew deployed a preconnected hose line to quickly knock down the fire and slow its spread into the additional threatened spaces. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As more personnel and equipment arrived, they established a water supply from a nearby fire hydrant. Additional crews pulled extra hose lines to help fight the fire, while an aerial device was used to put a large volume of water on the fire and help extinguish it. Additional fire crews conducted search and rescue operations inside the home while initiating ventilation operations to clear the structure of smoke and ensure that the fire had been fully extinguished. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During initial firefighting and search operations, crews were unable to locate any victims.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Columbia Fire Department's Fire Marshal's Division was called to investigate the origin and cause of the fire. The Columbia Police Department was already on the scene to support operations. The structure sustained extensive damage during the fire. While fire crews were investigating to ensure there were no areas of hidden fire remaining, one person was found deceased under debris inside the structure. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Columbia Fire Department and Columbia Police Department continue to investigate the cause of the fire as well as the cause of death of the deceased. The identity of the deceased subject has yet to be determined.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Eleven units comprising 24 Columbia Fire Department personnel, two University Hospital Center advanced life support EMS crews, and an EMS supervisor responded to this incident. Four Columbia Fire Department Fire Marshals investigated the incident with the assistance of the Columbia Police Department. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Columbia Fire Department reminds residents that smoke alarms save lives. Smoke alarms should be placed on every level of your home and outside of places where people sleep. Check your smoke alarms monthly by pressing the test button. Change your smoke alarm batteries at least twice per year when adjusting your clocks for Daylight Saving Time. Replace any smoke alarm over 10 years old.</span></p></div>
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<div class="content"><strong>Location:</strong> <a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://gocolumbiamo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=62b0c3219184457b88d19cf44ce1f4a3&find=Deerfoot Way" target="_blank">Deerfoot Way</a></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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