Residents of The Hollows trying to start life over after weekend fire

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — A fire this past weekend at The Hollows Apartments off of Broad River Road left 21 people searching for what to do now.

Many are having to start over their lives after losing all of their belongings.

“We got out just in time,” said Shamanece Thomas, a resident at The Hollows. “As soon as we went out the door, two minutes later it went up in flames.”

“It was a three-alarm fire. I sat there and watched it,” said resident Dalvin Sprinkle. “I’m blessed to be alive and happy everyone is safe. It could have been worse.”

While there were no reported injuries from the Sunday evening fire at The Hollows apartments, the 21 residents who lost their homes also lost their belongings. 

“I wasn’t able to salvage anything,” Sprinkle said. “They have the place boarded up. You can’t go in there because they’re scared the roof will collapse on us.”

“We only have what was on our back,” Thomas said. “My boyfriend lost everything, his wallet, phone, everything. All the kids’ clothes, bookbags, our clothes, high chair, car seat, everything is gone.”

The fire department estimates that the flames caused almost $800,000 worth of damage. Several residents have been staying at hotels for the past few days.  

“Right now I don’t have anything,” Sprinkle said. “I went and bought some shoes and clothes. I really feel homeless.”

Residents say that The Hollows is now allowing them to stay in open units at another apartment complex. 

“They’re getting us an apartment right now. The Red Cross is helping out,” Sprinkle said. “I have family in New York and down here that are helping out. It’s all working out.”

Some residents have set up Go Fund Me pages to try to help start over. 

“I’m grateful we got out with our lives,” Thomas said. “That’s the most important thing but we lost everything. I’m going back and forth trying to figure it out in my head.”

For more information about the Go Fund Me Pages, check them out here and here.