Apartment fire in Columbia displaces 12

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) – 12 people can’t go back home after a fire at Cypress Run Apartments off Broad River Road. Crews responded around 3:15am Wednesday. They say it appears contents in a charcoal grill weren’t extinguished and started the fire on one of the third-floor balconies. “The city ordinance in the City of Columbia is that you are not allowed to grill on decks above the first floor,” says spokesman Brick Lewis. “Don’t grill in a covered area, such as a garage. You don’t want anything overhanging while you’re grilling.” A total of two units are affected. No one was injured. Crews say they were able to put the fire out rather quickly, it caused about $55,000 in damage.