A home on Vermont Court caught fire twice Wednesday morning. Investigators now believe an undetected, smoldering ember from the first fire caused the second.
Fire investigators from the Columbia Fire Department and the Boone County Fire District worked together to complete the fire scene examination.
After the earlier fire in the garage of the home, firefighters spent almost two hours on the scene overhauling and investigating that blaze. During that time, three separate fire crews using thermal imaging cameras checked the attic areas for possible fire extension and found nothing.
"Our crews were in the attic space multiple times and didn't detect any unusual heat, discoloration, or smoke" said Columbia Fire Captain John Metz. "The original garage fire consumed mostly contents and did not breach the drywall of the room. Air currents may have carried an ember through the attic scuttle and remained undetected."
When conducting overhaul at a fire scene, firefighters remove as much material as possible to ensure the fire is extinguished. Fire crews have to balance this destructive process to put the fire out, while trying to save as much property as possible for the homeowner.
"It is unusual, but on rare occasions, something like this can happen" Metz said.
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