Accidental Fire at Williamsburg Apartments Injures 1, Displaces 10

A Thursday morning fire at the Williamsburg Apartments displaced ten residents and sent one adult male to the hospital for suspected smoke inhalation.
Investigators said the fire started on a third floor balcony and investigators believe the cause may be linked to improperly discarded smoking materials.
Around 4:05 AM Thursday morning, the Columbus Fire Department and Columbus Township Fire Department were called to 2715 Williamsburg Ct., for a report of an apartment fire at the Williamsburg Apartments. When Firefighters arrived on the scene, they found heavy fire showing from a third floor balcony with fire also visible on a second floor balcony. Firefighters quickly initiated an exterior fire attack from the street level and applied a water stream onto both the second and third floor wooden deck balconies.   As Firefighters advanced a fire hose to the upper levels of the apartment building’s interior, firefighters discovered that some of the building occupants were still in their apartments. Firefighters alerted all residents of the fire danger and All residents were safely evacuated from the building by firefighters.
One male resident, who lived on the third floor apartment where the fire was believed to have originated, was assessed for smoke inhalation and transported to the hospital in stable condition.
Columbus Fire Department investigators, believing that the fire originated on a third story balcony, inspected the area or origin and found evidence that indicated that the fire was likely due to improperly discarded smoking materials left on the wooden balcony of the third floor apartment and ruled accidental.
The building contained six apartments, five of which were occupied. Three families were permitted to return to their apartments at the conclusion of the investigation. Two apartments were deemed uninhabitable as a result of damage. A total of 7 adults and 3 children are among those displaced. The Salvation Army and the American Red Cross are providing emergency services to the families involved. Agencies that assisted at the scene include Columbus Township Fire and Rescue, Columbus Police Department and Columbus Regional Health Emergency Medical Services. Damage to the building is estimated at $30,000.