1 hurt in Columbia apartment fire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

One person was taken to a hospital after an apartment fire in Columbia on Thursday.

A Columbia Fire Department spokeswoman said 18 fire personnel were sent to the scene in the 2400 block of Whitegate Drive. The cause of the fire was under investigation, spokeswoman Skyler Clark said.

The call came in at 1:47 p.m., and firefighters had the blaze under control about 10 minutes after that, Clark said.

Clark confirmed that emergency radio traffic said a person escaped by jumping from a second-story window, but she didn't have other details.

Sarah Wilson, Director of Portfolio Relations, said one male tenant is listed on the lease for the apartment where the fire occurred.

She said that tenant escaped the fire and was taken to the hospital.

Following the incident, the complex sent a crew to begin emergency repairs. Wilson said fire marshals forced entry into both the affected apartment and the neighboring unit.

An ABC 17 reporter observed crews working on the damaged doors Thursday evening.

“Emergency repairs are being done tonight” Wilson said. “The rest of the repairs will be done as soon as possible.”

She said the primary unit will require a full rehabilitation.

Wilson added that officials still need to assess the damage and determine where the tenant will stay.

The section of the building where the fire occurred remained closed off until fire marshals cleared it to be safe.

Check back for updates.