Columbia fire crews responded to a kitchen fire that displaced the apartment’s resident.
Firefighters were called to an apartment at 1804 Garden Drive around 5:20 p.m. Friday for a reported residential structure fire.
Crews said they saw smoke inside the structure when the arrived. They found the stove and cabinets in the kitchen on fire.
The fire was put out in less than ten minutes, and the apartment’s resident escaped unharmed.
Assistant Fire Marshal Lisa Todd said the cause of the fire was unattended cooking. She estimated a preliminary damage amount of $10,000.
Todd said a neighbor entered the structure three times before fire crews arrived on the scene, in an attempt to extinguish the fire.
Local fire departments want to remind residents that as you set your clock back one hour this weekend, you should also take time to change the batteries in your smoke alarms.
The Columbia Fire Department said you should also test your smoke alarms at least once a month by pressing the test button.
If you can not afford a smoke alarm, Columbia residents can call the Columbia Fire Department at 573-874-7556 to schedule an appointment to have free smoke alarms installed. For those who need assistance in checking their smoke alarms, they can also contact the Columbia Fire Department.
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