1 firefighter killed, 6 transported to hospital after 3-alarm fire
Columbia, S.C. (WOLO)– The Columbia -Richland Fire Department tells ABC Columbia News one firefighter is dead, and 6 other crew members had to be transported to the hospital while fighting a 3-alarm blaze at the Tropical Ridge apartments off of Stoneridge Drive.
According to officials 5 of the firefighters were from CRFD, 2 others were from Irmo. One of them, the fatally injured firefighter identified by the Richland County Coroner Nadia Rutherford as 25 year old James Muller from Columbia, South Carolina.
Fire officials tell us they had to rescue “several people” from the burning building, and have learned that a total of 19 people have been displaced as a result of the blaze, some of whom were also transported to the hospital.
The coroner’s officer released a statement saying,
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the Columbia-Richland Fire Department, and the family of the loved ones of James Muller. We will continue working with the Columbia-Richland Fire Department to fully investigate this fire.”
Below you can see video of the scene released by the Columbia Richland Fire Department as crews were battling the inferno.
RIGHT NOW: Our 2nd Shift crews are on scene of a 2-Alarm apartment fire at Tropical Ridge Apartments off of Stoneridge Drive.
Multiple people have been rescued and all hands are working.
We’ll pass along more updates as they become available. pic.twitter.com/9rGlBUkIQy— Columbia-Richland Fire Department (@ColaFire) May 26, 2023
No word on what sparked the fire. ABC Columbia News has crews on the scene and will bring you more updates as they become available.
