[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Home Heavily Damaged by Fire

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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


Home Heavily Damaged by Fire

COLUMBIA, MO (May 24, 2012) - At 2:24 p.m. today, the Columbia Fire Department responded to a reported residential structure fire at 811 Cypress Lane in southwest Columbia. Several 9-1-1 callers reported that the front of the house was on fire.

Columbia Firefighters from the Green Meadows Road fire station reported smoke visible as they left the fire station and were on the scene in three minutes. When fire crews arrived they found heavy fire on the front of the home, with fire extending through the soffit and into the attic.

Firefighters extinguished the fire on the front of the home and entered the structure to attack the fire in the attic. Firefighters had to pull the drywall ceiling in two front rooms and a hallway of the home to gain access and extinguish the attic fire. The fire was controlled in approximately fifteen minutes but crews remained on the scene for more than two hours overhauling the fire damage and trying to protect the contents of the home.

Columbia Fire Investigator Lt. Brian Davison investigated the cause of the fire and determined it to be accidental, the result of improperly discarded smoking materials. The home is owned by Bryan Kempf ofColumbia. Fire damage to the structure is estimated at $50,000. The home was used as rental property and the tenants were not present when the fire was discovered. There were no injuries. Smoke alarms were present in the home and were sounding when firefighters arrived. Five fire trucks responded to the blaze.

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.

Two photos accompany this release.


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http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/CMS/pressreleases/downloadfile.php?id=91



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