11 Midlands families displaced by apartment fire early New Year’s
Eleven families were cast out of the homes by a fire early New Year’s Day.
The American Red Cross is assisting the families after several apartments on Garners Ferry Road were damaged by the fire.
Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins told WLTX that 49 people in total, including 17 children, were displaced when the fire damaged 12 units at the Spring Lake Apartments at 4 a.m. No one was injured in the fire that destroyed the building’s roof, and investigators are looking into whether New Year’s fireworks played a part in the blaze, Jenkins said.
The Red Cross said that regularly see a 30% increase in home fires in the winter as residents resort to potentially dangerous methods to keep themselves warm.
“Home fires are a real threat to communities across South Carolina year-round, especially during the winter months,” said Yolanda Gainwell, interim CEO for the Red Cross of South Carolina. “We at the Red Cross are urging families to take home fire safety steps to keep your family safe this winter.”
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