Fire destroys home at Forest Avenue

Posted to Police Beat by Katherine Miller at 12:17 p.m., March 23, 2009

The cause of a fire that completely destroyed a home at 112 Forest Ave. on Sunday morning is still under investigation, stated a news release from the Columbia Fire Department.

The cause has not been determined, but the fire is considered to be suspicious, and the fire department has involved the Columbia Police Department's Major Crimes Unit , stated a second news release from the fire department.

The owner of the home, Jessica Ford, was working at Sonic on Business Loop 70, when a neighbor notified her of the fire. Ford went to her home and entered the burning house to save her three dogs. All of the animals were able to escape uninjured, the news release stated.

No one else was injured in the fire as well.

Fire crews arrived at the scene at 11:14 a.m. and were able to control the flames in 30 minutes, the news release stated.

Damage is estimated at $50,000. The value of the structure was reported at $40,000, and Ford assigned a value of $10,000 to the house’s contents, the news release stated.

Ford is being assisted with shelter, food and clothing by the American Red Cross, the news release stated.

Fire investigators have determined the fire began near the southwest bedroom but the investigation is ongoing.