[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Fire on Stove Damages Columbia Apartment

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Captain John Metz
Duty PIO Pager 573-499-7035(24 hours - Please No Voice Mail)
Office (M-F, 8-5)573-874-7644 


Fire on Stove Damages Columbia Apartment

COLUMBIA, MO (November 19, 2011) - At 2:58 a.m.today, the Columbia Fire Department was dispatched to 1609 Hinkson Avenue, Apartment 3 to investigate a smoke odor in the apartment building.

As fire units were responding, Public Safety Joint Communications advised that the 9-1-1 caller could see flames through the window ofapartment 3.

Fire crews arrived on the scene approximately five minutes after being dispatched and confirmed there was a fire in a downstairs apartment of a 12 unit, three-story apartment building.  Fire fighters forced open the door to apartment 3 and, using a single hoseline, quickly extinguished a fire on the stove. Fire damage was contained to the area of the stove. Fire fighters spent about 30 minutes removing smoke from building. The apartment remains habitable.

The 9-1-1 caller, Kevin Hirner, lives on the second floor of the apartment building and told fire fighters that earlier in the evening he noticed an odor of burnt food in the building. Shortly before 3:00 a.m. Hirner heard a smoke alarm sounding from the apartment downstairs. Upon investigating the alarm, Hirner saw flames in apartment 3 and called 9-1-1.

Columbia Fire Investigator Lt. Shawn McCollom determined the cause of the fire to be accidental. Lt. McCollom determined the fire started after combustible kitchen items on the electric stovetop ignited when a burner knob was accidentally turned on. The occupant of apartment 3, Alex Prewett, 30, was not at home when the fire was discovered. The apartment building is owned by James Sears of Columbia. There were no injuries and damage was estimated at $5,000.

"This is a great example of how a working smoke alarm and early notification to the Columbia Fire Department averted a potentially disastrous large loss fire" said Fire Captain John Metz.

The Columbia Fire Department wants to remind residents that working smoke alarms do save lives. Test your smoke alarms at least once a month by pressing the test button. Replace smoke alarm batteries at least once a year. Replace smoke alarms every 10 years. To ensure adequate protection, place smoke alarms in every sleeping room, and in a common area on every floor.


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