[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Fire Forces Apartment Building Evacuation

[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 Forces Apartment Building Evacuation

COLUMBIA, MO (October 24, 2011) - OnMonday, October 24, 2011, at approximately 5:36 p.m., the Columbia Fire Department was dispatched to a reported structure fire at 2401 West Broadway, the Gatehouse Apartments.

 

When Columbia Fire Fighters arrived on the scene, they reported finding light smoke in several apartments of the twenty-four unit building. The building was evacuated and crews spent almost one hour checking each apartment for the source of the smoke. Crews finally located a smoldering fire in a cabinet under a sink in apartment405. The small fire was quickly extinguished with a water fire extinguisher and the smoke was ventilated from the building.

 

The occupant of apartment 405, Evan Forbis, 26, was not home when the fire was reported. Assistant Fire Marshal Lt. Tim Bach investigated the fire and determined that a construction contractor had been working in the apartment earlier today. Lt. Bach determined that the cause of the fire was accidental, the result of a contractor's torch igniting combustible building materials under the sink. The torch was being used to solder a pipe beneath the sink. Damage is estimated at $1000 dollars. The apartment complex is operated by Mills Properties of St. Louis.

 

Occupants of the apartment building waited outside for about an hour while fire crews located the fire and then cleared smoke from several apartments. Forbis stated he would likely stay with relatives tonight. There were no injuries.

 

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. If you can not afford a smoke alarm, call the Columbia Fire Department at 573-874-7556 to schedule an appointment to have free smoke alarms installed. For residents who need assistance in checking their smoke alarms, they can also contact the Columbia Fire Department.  


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