[Press Release] : Two-alarm fire heavily damages Columbia apartment building

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Captain Eric Hartman - (573) 874-7644

Two-alarm fire heavily damages Columbia apartment building

COLUMBIA, MO (December 20, 2008) - Columbia firefighters were called at
3:46 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, to 1801 W. Worley St., apartment 16C,
for a report of a structure fire.

Initial arriving fire crews from Fire Station 2 on Worley Street
reported heavy fire conditions on arrival, with both floors of one
apartment fully engulfed in flames, which was spreading to adjacent
apartments. The crews of Engine 2 and Ladder 2 mounted an aggressive
fire attack, using hose lines and one master stream device. The efforts
of these crews and their swift actions directly resulted in containing
the fire to one building, with only exterior heat damage to an adjacent
apartment building.

At 3:52 a.m., a second alarm assignment was dispatched to this fire,
bringing an additional four Columbia Fire Department apparatus to the
scene and initiating the recall of off-duty personnel.

Initial reports suggested there was a teenage child unaccounted for in
apartment 16C; however, multiple searches yielded no victims and all
residents were ultimately accounted for. One resident was evaluated by
University Hospital EMS staff for smoke inhalation at the scene but was
not transported to the hospital.

Fire crews used thermal imaging cameras to locate areas of concealed
fire inside the walls and ceiling of the building; and used large fans
to remove smoke and heat from the apartment. In addition, crews were
able to conduct salvage operations in the adjacent apartments, placing
large tarps over the occupant's belongings, minimizing the amount of
peripheral water damage.

The occupant, Larhonda Jones, reported to fire crews that she, along
with three children and one other adult, were asleep in the home and
were awakened by the smoke alarms which activated. Upon waking, they
discovered smoke in the apartment and saw flames in the downstairs
portion of the home. They attempted self-extinguishment of the fire,
when those efforts were unsuccessful; they evacuated the apartment and
called 9-1-1 for fire department assistance.

The building contains six apartment units and damage is initially
estimated at $175,000. Ten residents have been displaced as a result of
this fire. The American Red Cross and the building owner, Yarco Company
(Kansas City), are assisting displaced residents with emergency housing
and other needs.

Investigators from the Columbia Fire Department were on-scene and at
this time the cause is under investigation.

Due to the extremely cold temperatures, and with the large number of
displaced residents and fire crews on the scene, the Columbia Fire
Department dispatched their 20-passanger bus to the scene, which was
used as a warming shelter for residents and a rehabilitation area for
fire crews.

Residents are urged to immediately evacuate and call 9-1-1 for fire
department assistance if they discover a fire in any building. For your
safety, do not attempt to extinguish the fire yourself.

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