[Press Release] : Columbia firefighters battle third structure fire within 24 hours

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

Columbia firefighters battle third structure fire within 24 hours

COLUMBIA, MO (December 20, 2008) - Columbia firefighters were called at
8:15 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, to 1412 Barnwood Drive for a report of a
structure fire.

Firefighters arrived and found heavy smoke conditions on the second
floor of a duplex. Fire crews entered the home and found flames inside
an upstairs bedroom, which were brought under control within 15 minutes.
Crews then used large fans to remove residual smoke and heat from the
home and thermal imaging cameras to check for pockets of hidden fire
within the attic and walls. The home sustained severe fire damage to the
upstairs bedroom, with moderate smoke, heat and water damage throughout
the rest of the home. Fire crews placed large tarps over some of the
occupant's belongings, minimizing the amount of peripheral water damage
from the fire fighting efforts. The fire was contained to one side of
the duplex. There were no injuries and damage is initially estimated at
$30,000 to the duplex owned by Tony LeBarge.

The occupant, Patrick Cook, told fire crews he was in the duplex along
with his fiancée and infant child at the time of the fire. Mr. Cook said
he and his family had been gone that evening and returned to the home
approximately 10 minutes prior to the fire dispatch, and smelled smoke
in the home. A short time later, the smoke alarms sounded. When the
smoke alarms sounded, he discovered heavy smoke at the top of the stairs
and evacuated. He then called 9-1-1 for fire department assistance.

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

The Columbia Fire Department's customer service van was brought to the
scene for use as a warming shelter for the occupants of the duplex due
to the bitter cold temperatures Columbia is experiencing this weekend.

This fire is the third significant structure fire reported to the
Columbia Fire Department in the last 24 hours. Fire crews extinguished a
duplex fire last evening at 1513 Olympic Blvd., and earlier today a
two-alarm fire at 1801 W. Worley Street caused severe damage to a
six-unit apartment building.

This is also the second fire today where properly functioning smoke
alarms provided the initial notification of a fire to the occupants. In
both instances, adults and small children were present in the homes when
the smoke alarms activated. Smoke alarms save lives! City residents who
do not have working smoke alarms in their home can still contact the
Columbia Fire Department at 201 Orr Street, or the Columbia Professional
Fire Fighters Local 1055 at 573-823-6942 to obtain a smoke alarm at no
cost.

Due to the recent number of structure fires within the city of
Columbia, the Columbia Fire Department is urging residents to take a few
moments and review some basic fire safety tips. This information is
available by visiting the city's web site at www.GoColumbiaMo.com.

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