Smoking materials caused early-morning house fire in Columbia, officials say
Members of the Columbia Fire Department battled an early-morning blaze at a home in Richland County, officials said.
At about 12:30 a.m., firefighters responded to reports of a house fire on Veterans Road in Columbia, the fire department said on Twitter. That’s near the junction of Garners Ferry Road and Interstate 77.
The first firefighters to arrive at the scene found heavy fire coming from the front of the house, and flames were quickly spreading, according to the tweet.
Information about how long it took firefighters to get the blaze under control was not available, but the fire department said it was extinguished.
When firefighters were able to make entry into the home, they found four pets, and one died, according to the tweet. The three other pets were rescued, the fire department said.
No other injuries were reported.
An investigation showed discarded smoking materials were the cause of the fire, according to the tweet. Specific information on the type of smoking materials was not available.
There was no word on the extent of the damage the fire and smoke caused, or if the house is considered a total loss.
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This story was originally published June 16, 2022 at 11:04 AM.