[Press Release] : Early morning basement fire displaces family in western Columbia

[pr-l at news.gocolumbiamo.com]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Captain Rick Douglas - (573) 499-7035 

Early morning basement fire displaces family in western Columbia

COLUMBIA, MO (January 24, 2007) -- On Jan. 24 at 7:13 a.m. units of the Columbia Fire Department responded to a reported residential structure fire at 10 Heather Lane. Initial reports indicated a fire in the bedroom and the occupants had exited the home. Upon arrival, fire crews determined the fire to be in a basement bedroom and began fire ground operations. Basement fires pose a different threat than most fires due to the accessibility issues, along with excessive heat buildup and smoke conditions.

The occupant, Mary Garza, stated that she had gone outside to retrieve an item from her vehicle and when she reentered the home, noticed a haze and smelled smoke. A child in the home believed the smoke to be coming from the basement. When Garza went downstairs, she discovered the fire. She grabbed her cell phone and children and safely exited the home. It was later determined that there was not a working smoke alarm in the home.

The cause of the fire was determined to be the failure of an electrical outlet in the basement bedroom where the television was plugged in. The Columbia Fire Department responded with the customer service van as a refuge for the occupants to keep them out of the cold weather. Damage estimates to the home are approximately $20,000. The Fire Department would like to remind all residents of Columbia to install and test smoke alarms on all floors of the home and outside of the sleeping areas. 

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