Fire set in Columbia business
In the past week, Columbia firefighters battled fires at a local business that are believed to have been set intentionally.
A series of three separate fires occurred between 8 and 9 p.m. on Dec. 18 at Boyce and Bynum Pathology Laboratories at 200 Portland St. Firefighters arrived on the scene to find two trashcans and a ream of paper set on fire.
"From an investigators point of view, it is clearly obvious that the fires were intentionally set," Columbia Fire Department Battalion Chief Gary Warren said.
The department, in conjunction with the Columbia fire investigators, is investigating the source of these fires. Forty people have been interviewed in connection with the arson, according to a department news release. During the time of the fires, numerous employees were present in the building, but no injuries and minimal damage was reported.
Firefighters have also been busy fighting fires at local residences. The department fought four residential fires between Nov. 11 and Dec. 11 that appeared to be related. Warren said setting up surveillance cameras could help prevent fires.
"Since this incident was intentionally done, it's hard to prevent," Warren said. "We're not talking about an accident. We're talking about something that was intentionally set."
Later that day, the department also battled two unrelated structure fires. A residence at 1513 Olympic Blvd and a six-unit apartment building at 1801 Worley St. caught fire, according to news releases from fire department.
On the evening of Dec. 20, another fire occurred at 1412 Barnwood Drive. The department was contacted after a resident at 1412 Barnwood Drive discovered flames in a bedroom. The fire was contained to one side of the duplex, but the fire was the third within 24 hours.