A wall of flames tore through a stretch of attached row homes in Columbia Borough on Saturday afternoon, sending a thick plume of smoke over downtown and pushing residents out into the street. Fire crews stayed on scene well into the evening, and officials said everyone living in the affected buildings was safely evacuated.
What officials say
According to PennLive, the fire was first reported around 3:23 p.m. on the first block of South Fourth Street and was quickly upgraded to a three-alarm response. By 7:06 p.m., the Columbia Borough Police Department was urging people to steer clear of the area, saying emergency crews were still actively working the scene.
Where it happened
Real-time alerts on the Citizen app placed the incident at Locust Street and South Fourth, with multiple fire and EMS units arriving within minutes of the first call. The app’s incident log showed related activity all along the block, underscoring just how large and coordinated the response had to be.
Damage and response
Local coverage and accounts from the scene showed flames breaking through the roofs of several connected homes. Crews brought in a backhoe to tear down one structure that was in danger of collapsing, according to PennLive. Authorities reported no immediate injuries, but several households were left displaced by the blaze.
Investigation and next steps
The borough police said the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and a Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal is expected to investigate the origin and circumstances of the blaze, a standard step in larger incidents. The Pennsylvania Fireman notes that this kind of coordination between state and local fire marshals is routine after major fires.
The Columbia Borough Fire Department lists contact information and details on its multi-agency support network for working fires, and officials have asked anyone with information about Saturday’s blaze to get in touch with local authorities.
