Columbus firefighters responded to an early-morning fire Wednesday at the Williamsburg Way apartment complex. A resident was hospitalized in apparently critical condition, according to the Columbus Fire Department.
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Columbus firefighters pulled an unconscious man from an apartment fire early Wednesday morning. The man’s condition appeared to be critical, a Columbus Fire Department news release said.
At about 2:44 a.m., firefighters were dispatched to 2714 Williamsburg Court for a report of a structure fire. As crews responded to the scene at the Williamsburg Way apartment complex, additional reports indicated that an occupant was possibly trapped inside a basement-level apartment.
Firefighters from Engine Co. #4 arrived on the scene within five minutes of the call and reported an absence of smoke visible from the exterior of a multiple-unit apartment building. As firefighters entered the building they smelled smoke but saw no sign of fire. Firefighters located the apartment and breached the locked door. Upon gaining entry, firefighters encountered heavy smoke and heat conditions.
Equipped with a hose line and a thermal imaging camera, firefighters entered the smoke-filled apartment to search for any trapped occupants. Approximately 2 feet inside the apartment, the thermal imaging camera identified an occupant on the floor. Firefighters removed the unconscious man from the apartment and into a stairwell where a Columbus Police Officer aided firefighters in removing the man outside the building. On the exterior of the building, fire department emergency medical technicians attended to the man. The man was then treated and transported to the hospital by Columbus Regional Health Ambulance Service. Firefighters reported that the condition of the man while on the scene appeared to be critical.
CFD said Wednesday afternoon the man’s current condition is unknown.
Once the victim was removed for the apartment and additional firefighters began to arrive on the scene, firefighters re-entered the apartment to search for any additional occupants. The completion of a primary search indicated that no additional persons were inside the apartment. Firefighters reported a lack of flames inside the apartment, indicating that the fire was starved for oxygen and self-extinguished before firefighters arrived. Firefighters applied a small amount of water to smoldering materials before reporting the fire was out.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the fire occurred in the kitchen area of the apartment with little fire extension to other areas of the apartment. Smoke damage was visible throughout the apartment. Smoke from the fire also extended to apartment units above. Damages to the apartment are estimated at $50,000.
Agencies that assisted at the scene include the Columbus Police Department, Columbus Regional Health Ambulance Service, Columbus City Utilities, Duke Energy and CenterPoint Energy. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
