House fire in Columbia causes $5,000 worth of damage

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A house fire in Columbia on Saturday afternoon, caused around $5,000 in damage according to the Columbia Fire Department.

Around 2 p.m., crews responded to the 200 block of Bittersweet Court for a house fire in the back part of the home.

Crews found smoke coming out of a walkout basement and quickly isolated the fire to the basement family room of the home. Columbia Fire brought the fire under control in five minutes.

The department said residents were not hurt during the fire and had safely left the home.

Columbia Fire Marshals determined the fire was caused by improperly discarded smoking materials.

Residents were notified by smoke alarms in the home of the fire and the department wants to remind area residents to change smoke alarm batteries at least twice a year.