Fire damages historic Bull Street mental health building in Columbia
All hands were called to battle a fire at a downtown Columbia landmark Thursday night.
The burning structure was identified as the Babcock Building in a tweet from the Columbia Fire Department, which called it a high-rise fire.
The fire was “coming through the roof” of the building that is near the BullStreet District, according to Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins. He said the 2-alarm blaze started just before 6 p.m., and more than 60 firefighters were on hand.
As of 10:30 p.m., the fire remained active, and was not under control, Jenkins said. He added it could take hours before the blaze is contained.
Jenkins said the building is abandoned and located on the old South Carolina State Hospital grounds, which is near the intersection of Pickens and Calhoun streets. That is close to Spirit Communication Park, home of the Columbia Fireflies minor-league baseball team.
The building has been condemned, according to the fire department. Jenkins said because it is vacant, the property is hazardous and he has had to use caution placing firefighters inside because there are holes in the floor.
The blaze was contained to the south portion of the building, the fire department said. Ladder trucks were being used to battle the flames from the outside, but all of the smoke caused “hazy conditions,” the fire department reported.
The area of Calhoun and Pickens streets was closed to traffic, the fire department reported.
That is a busy traffic area, and it impacted the evening commute for drivers.
There was no word on the cause of the fire. Jenkins said an investigation will not begin until Friday.
Jenkins said no injuries have been reported, but firefighters have not searched the building, where the fire is believed to have started on the fourth floor, and moved up through the roof.
The Babcock Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981, before it was vacated in the 1990s, according to Amy Heiden Photography.
A mental asylum, the building was constructed in four campaigns, from 1857 to 1885, The State reported.
The building is known for its iconic red cupola, which can be seen from Bull Street, or by motorists heading toward it on Elmwood Street, at the end of I-126.
The Babcock Building is slated to be redeveloped into nearly 200 apartments by Clachan Properties, a Virginia company that specializes in historical renovation.
Jenkins said the building is not expected to be destroyed because of the fire.
“It is not going to be a total loss,” Jenkins told The State.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
This story was originally published December 13, 2018 at 6:21 PM.
