Electrical arcing throughout home causes Columbia firefighters to evacuate

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Electrical arcing that sparked small fires throughout a home forced Columbia firefighters to evacuate Thursday night until utility crews could turn off the power.

Firefighters were called to a report of a tree falling onto a home in the 2900 block of Bray Avenue in west Columbia, but found that the tree had fallen in the backyard and brought down conductors for the home's electrical service, according to a Columbia Fire Department news release. Firefighters found a fire in the basement coming from tubing that feeds gas into a furnace.

After firefighters shut off the gas line and extinguished the fire, electricity began arcing throughout the home, setting several small fires, because of the damage to the electrical service, CFD says.

"Although crews had turned off the main electric breaker to the home, various components remained energized and were considered extremely dangerous," the release states.

Firefighters evacuated the home while utility workers cut off the power. No one was hurt.