Business Burns Down in Columbia
***UPDATE FRIDAY 4:51 P.M.***Columbia Fire Captain John Metz briefed ABC 17 News Friday evening on the ongoing investigation into the fire at Sound Performance overnight. Metz said that in addition to the total destruction of the business and building, seven vehicles inside the building were also destroyed in the fire. The building has been turned over to the property owner, and an insurance company is in the process of securing the building. Emergency officials said a police alarm sounded right before the fire. Metz added insurance company representatives and Columbia fire investigators plan to revisit the scene next week to continue investigating. ***UPDATE FRIDAY 12:57 P.M.***On Thursday, December 20th, at 10:12 p.m. the Columbia Fire Department responded to a reported commercial structure fire at Sound Performance, located at 1310 Indiana Avenue.While fire crews were en route, Public Safety Joint Communications dispatchers advised that they had originally received a police alarm from Sound Performance but when officers arrive on the scene, they found heavy smoke coming from the building. Firefighters arrived on the scene at 10:17 p.m. and found fire and smoke coming from a garage door on the south side of the 6000 square foot building. Firefighters entered the building to attack the fire but encountered heavy fire conditions and were forced to back out. As the firefighters exited the structure, fire broke through the roof of the single story building. At 10:37 p.m. the incident commander requested a second alarm, bringing three additional fire engines and an air resupply truck to the scene. Because the building was no longer safe to enter, firefighters attacked the fire from the outside with hose lines and aerial ladders. It took approximately one hour to bring the fire under control.Fire crews will remain at the scene overnight and fire investigators will return to the scene early Friday morning. It is too early to determine a cause of the fire and an accurate dollar loss cannot be assigned until the business owner and building owner can assess the damage. The building appears to be a total loss and it is believed total damages will exceed $300,000. Marc Schumer owns the business and Richard Erickson owns the building.25 firefighters, six fire engines, a ladder truck, and a rescue squad responded to the blaze. Despite below freezing temperatures and a steady 17 mph wind, there were no injuries. ***UPDATE 11:35 P.M.***Columbia fire crews are still working an active fire at Sound Performance on Indiana Street.At least six fire crews are on scene and will remain on scene for a few hours until the fire is under control.The fire department says the building suffered extensive damage. Fire crews say it’s too early to determine the cause. There are no reports of injuries at this time.***ORIGINAL STORY***Columbia firefighters tell ABC 17 News they are battling a two-alarm fire at Sound Performance on Indiana Street. An ABC 17 News reporter saw heavy smoke and flames at around 10:15 p.m. from blocks away and called 911. Within minutes, several units were on scene, as the fire grew quickly.As of 10:45, the fire is too dangerous for fire crews to enter the building. It’s unclear if anyone was inside at the time. More units are on the way.Stay tuned to ABC 17 News for details.
