Fire in Ashwood Apartments building – The Maneater

A fire that consumed the entire building of 900 Ashwood Apartments, which was destroyed, left all of the building's 20 residents unscathed and safe, Columbia Fire Battalion Chief Steven Sapp said.

The fire started around 6 p.m., but Sapp said the fire department had not yet identified the cause of the fire.

"We're still mopping up the hot spots," he said.

Two firefighters were taken to the burn center at University Hospital. Both firefighters have since been released.

Other damages included burns to two vehicles and substantial damage to a fire vehicle.

Sapp said the majority of the residents have found temporary housing with family or friends. Those who could not find housing received vouchers for hotels from the American Red Cross.

The American Red Cross also helped residents obtain necessities and clothing.

"They lost not only the building, but all it's contents," Sapp said. "Many students lost books and notes."

Sapp said he was unsure how long the American Red Cross would be able to provide for residents.

"At least several days," he said. "It's more short-term housing, though."

Sapp said the Columbia Fire Department usually fights fires by going into the building, but because the fire at building 900 was so intense, firefighters were limited to a "defensive" strategy.

"We surround the building and try to contain the fire," he said.

Sapp said the fire had been called an explosive fire because of its large growth in a short period of time.

"Fire feeds on itself," he said. "It doubles every minute if not controlled."

Ashland Apartments resident Sarah Skorepa said she heard the fire sirens but first dismissed the alarms because a fire station is located nearby.

"Then I noticed they weren't dying down," she said.

Skorepa, who lives in another building, said she noticed building 900 was on fire when she went outside. Skorepa said the fire was at first contained to the area above the porch.

"Within the next few minutes it burst into flames, and then I just started calling my friends (who live at Ashwood)," she said.

Resident and MU sophomore Mitch Stroud said he got home after the apartments had been evacuated and didn't know if there was any damage to his apartment.

"I tried to see if my building was on fire, but I couldn't," he said. "It was huge. You could see the wood in the building collapse."

Police detained a male at the scene of the fire. Stroud said the man might have been a resident of the apartments.

"I think he was trying to go to his place, and they weren't going to let him," Stroud said. "The cops tackled him and arrested him."

The arrested man was later released.

The fire also attracted citizens and MU students who were not inhabitants of Ashwood. Freshman John Waller said he first thought Cramer residence hall was on fire. He went to the scene of the fire to watch.

"We almost saw a firefighter get smashed by the roof," he said.

Freshman Aaron Stinnett said he and his friends had seen the smoke from the Plaza 900 dining hall.

"When we first came, the whole porch was blazing," Stinnett said. "Black smoke was going into the air 100 feet high and fiery debris was falling."