Structure fire on Eighth Street in Columbia

UPDATE 6 p.m.: Firefighters responded to the fire in the 1000 block of Eighth Street around 12:45 p.m. Friday.

According to online dispatch records, 12 fire units responded.

Jerry Jenkins, division fire chief of the Columbia Fire Department, said fire crews had to call for more help when they first got to the residence.

Jenkins said it took about 20 minutes for crews to extinguish the fire. He said the fire started on the lower floor, in the back of Unit A, and traveled to the attic.

No one was inside Unit A, but a couple was inside Unit B when the fire started.

Francine Frey, one resident in Unit B, said she didn’t hear any smoke detectors go off or see any smoke. She said one of her neighbors had to knock on her door twice to let them know that their building was on fire.

Jenkins said firefighters had to be more cautious because of the warm and humid weather. Firefighters were going inside the residence for about 15 minutes before they came back out to take a break and cool down.

Jenkins said fire investigators will be looking into how the fire started, but at the time, they don’t know that information.

Jenkins also said crews are working to determine the cost of damage to the unit. He said the unit had a lot of damage from the fire, smoke and water.

UPDATE 2:28 p.m.: The fire started in apartment “A” in a duplex-style apartment. There were no injuries.

ORIGINAL STORY: There is a structure fire on the 1000 block of Eighth Street in Columbia.

Multiple agencies are working the fire, including the Columbia Fire Department.

ABC 17 News is on scene and working to find out how the fire started, if there were any occupants and if there were any injuries.