The fire reported at 4:46 am on Sunday, at 106 Business Loop 70 West was marked under control just after 3:00 PM today.
Fire fighters responded to a report of a fire at O'Reileys Auto Parts and arrived on the scene to find heavy fire and smoke coming from the business and smoke inside the other stores in the strip mall.
Due to the volume of fire in the north end of the building which was occupied by O'Reileys and Adams Barber Shop, a defensive fire attack was ordered and numerous fire lines and aerial devices began flowing large quantities of water onto the fire from the outside of the building.
The risk of fire fighters entering the building was to great.
Fire spread across the roof from north to south and eventually Sammys Beauty Supply, Hong Kong Restaurant, and Dollar General Store all sustained significant fire, heat and smoke damage.
Partial collapse of the north end of the building occurred shortly after 9:00 am.
Heavy smoke and positioning of fire apparatus caused several road closures in the area including Business 70 between Parkade and Garth in both directions, Garth Ave south of Business Loop to 4th Ave, and Jefferson between Forest and Business Loop.
Heavy smoke generated by burning materials in the auto parts store also caused concern for residents in the area who may have respiratory issues and residents were encourage to close windows and stay indoors.
Samples of the fire fighting run off water were taken at Flat Branch Creek and negative results were returned.
A excavator was called to the scene shortly before noon to begin knocking down portions of the building as well as removing the roof to assist fire fighters in locating hidden fire.
As of 5:30 PM, two fire companies remained on the scene applying water to smoldering areas.
Fire crews will remain on the scene for several hours and will return throughout the night at regular intervals.
The owner of the property, Real Estate Management Incorporated has private security on scene where they will remain over night and until the site is rendered safe.
Fire investigators determined the fire began in the north end of the building, but due to the amount of fire and the destruction, are unable to pinpoint a specific location.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation and it is likely to be several days before more information on a cause is available.
Very preliminary damage estimates on the building alone are placed at $2.5 million.
Likewise, very preliminary estimates of loss to inventory in the businesses is placed at $4 million.
This is a preliminary figure and will be adjusted as the investigation continues.
Update: 4-1-2012; 9:28p.m
Columbia Fire Fighters were called at 4:45 am on Sunday, to 106 Business Loop 70 West Loop 70 Plaza, for a reported commercial structure fire.
While en-route crews were informed there was smoke coming from the Oreilly Store located on the North end of the Plaza.
Upon their arrival, at 4:52 a.m, crews reported heavy smoke and fire from the building.
A second Alarm was requested at 05:00.
As more crews arrived on the scene the fire continued to move south through the buildings.
The Columbia Fire Department had 11 apparatus and approximately 35 people on the scene battling the blaze.
The businesses directly affected by the fire are Oreilly Auto Parts, Adams Barber Shop @ 108, Sami Beauty Supply, Hong Kong Restaurant, and Dollar General.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKRCG