A fire tore through a Columbia apartment early Saturday morning leaving 18 people without a home, the Columbia-Richland Fire Department shared on social media.
Just before midnight, crews responded to Hampton Greene Apartments off of Gills Creek Parkway, officials said. While en route, firefighters saw a plume of smoke and called for a working fire dispatch.
When firefighters arrived, they found heavy fire coming from one building and flames quickly spreading through the roof. Officials said it prompted a second alarm, dispatching more crews. The fire was brought under control around 2 a.m. The exterior of one other apartment building was damaged due to heat.
All residents escaped the building safely and there were no injuries, according to the fire department. However, 18 people were displaced.
The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced families with immediate needs like food, clothing and shelter, according to a news release.
“As our teams work with the families impacted, our hearts go out to them and we want to provide all the support we can,” Yolanda Gainwell, interim CEO of the Red Cross of South Carolina, said in a news release. “This (devastating) event reminds us that fires can happen anywhere, at any time, and we must always be prepared for these unfortunately frequent disasters. We encourage families to practice their home fire safety plan and test their smoke alarms.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation, the fire department said.
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