Irmo firefighter dies fighting apartment fire in Columbia. Six other firefighters injured

A pillar of black smoke poured into the sky about the Tropical Ridge apartments, as rescuers rushed to the scene of a blaze that killed one firefighter and injured six others.

James Michael Muller, 25, of Columbia, died fighting the fire that consumed a building at the apartment complex on Stoneridge Drive, according to Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford.

At a press conference Friday evening, Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins told reporters how the fire, which broke out around 4:15 p.m., continued to grow after the first firefighters arrived at the scene. A second alarm went out for another fire crew. And then came the dreaded alert: Mayday. Firefighters were trapped inside the building.

Seven fire fighters were transported to an area hospital, according to Jenkins. Five were from Columbia and two were from Irmo.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to our partners at Irmo Fire District and our many dedicated firefighters following this tragic day,” the Columbia-Richland Fire Department said on Twitter.

Two residents of the apartment building were rescued and 19 were displaced, according to Jenkins.

Jenkins said that the six other firefighters injured appeared to be doing “pretty good” and that they were all “hoping they would be OK.”

Hours later, the smoke from the blaze could be smelled as far away as Cayce.

The department has said it is investigating the cause of the blaze with assistance from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Columbia Police Department and the South Carolina Division of Fire and Life Safety.

This is a breaking news story. Check back here for updates.

This story was originally published May 26, 2023 at 9:11 PM.