Columbia Fire Department rescues four from residential fire

Three children and one adult are safe following a reported residential structure fire Thursday morning at the 400 block of North College Avenue, according to a news release from the department sent that afternoon. 

Fire crews responding received reports that people and animals were possibly trapped inside the building. 

The first crew arrived three minutes after the call and observed no exterior fire or smoke from the apartment building. The crew then observed smoke from a second-floor apartment. 

The fire crew forced entry to the apartment and located the source of the fire in the bedroom, utilizing the hose line to extinguish it. 

The fire was put out in about 10 minutes and was identified to have originated from an animal heating pad in the bedroom. The fire was ruled as accidental.

No occupants were found in the apartment, though crews located a cat and gecko there. Both were provided care until reunited with their owner. 

Once additional crews and equipment arrived, the department began search and rescue operations in the apartments on the two remaining levels of the apartment building. 

While searching, crews encountered one adult and three children in a third floor apartment that had begun to fill with smoke from the fire on the floor below. None of the individuals were injured and did not want additional emergency care. 

Damages were estimated at $2,000. Eight crews from the fire department one from the Boone Hospital Center advanced life support EMS responded to the incident. 

The fire department continues to urge residents to check smoke alarms monthly, change their batteries at least twice per year and replace any alarm over 10 years old. 

Lauren Tronstad covers local government and politics for the Tribune. Contact her at LTronstad@gannett.com or on Twitter @LaurenTronstad.