Columbia Fire Department (SC)

06/05/2026

06/05/2026

Eighteen new Columbia-Richland firefighters 🚒 are ready for duty!

Congratulations to the members of Firefighter Recruit Class 2026-01 who graduated and were sworn into service this evening.

Welcome to our brotherhood 🤝 and good luck to all of you as you have your first days on shift beginning this weekend.

FULL STORY HERE: https://shorturl.at/6vZMq

06/03/2026

Our 2nd Shift crews working with Irmo Fire District were able to stop an apartment fire from spreading further through a building at The Lory of Harbison this morning.

Smoke could be scene coming from the roof of the building off of Fairforest Road when firefighters first arrived shortly before 10:45 a.m.

All occupants of the building escaped safely. Three tenants of the apartment where the fire broke out were treated on scene by Richland County EMS and released.

Crews entered the apartment, extinguished the fire and brought a cat and dog in the unit out to safety. Unfortunately a third pet did not survive the incident.

The unit where the fire started was left with significant damages. One apartment below was also damaged by water. A total of eight people in the building have been left displaced.

The fire was caused by unattended cooking in the upstairs apartment.

06/02/2026

At least three people have been left displaced following an afternoon apartment fire off of Garners Ferry Road.

1st Shift crews arrived on scene at Colonial Pointe apartments to find smoke showing from a unit in one building. Firefighters made entry, located the fire on the first floor and quickly extinguished it. No one was in the apartment at the time of the incident and there were no injuries.

The fire appeared to have started near the television and the entire unit was left with damages from heat and smoke.

06/01/2026

🌀 Hurricane Season 2026 is officially here and that means the prospect for some BIG storms!

Don’t wait until the tracks start showing up on your TV. Start your planning today.

✔️ Know your evacuation route
✔️ Stock up on water, batteries & medications
✔️ Charge devices ahead of storms
✔️ Review insurance & important documents
✔️ Have a plan for pets and family communication in the event of a major weather event

A little preparation now can make a big difference later.
Stay safe and stay ready. 🌧️⚡

05/29/2026

3rd Shift crews made quick work of an electrical fire that broke out at a home on Churchill Circle shortly after 2:30 this afternoon.

Firefighters were able to make entry into the home, gain access to the attic space where the fire was and bring the scene under control. All occupants made it out safely and there were no injuries.

Photos courtesy of Photo 1 📸

05/28/2026

Congratulations 🎉 graduates 🎓!

We’re in the midst of graduation season and last week Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins had the honor of being the keynote speaker for commencement activities at Carver-Lyon Elementary School.

Chief Jenkins, who himself is a graduate of the school, encouraged the students to be accountable, be courageous, be focused and to never give up on their dreams.

05/27/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and our department wants to remind the members of our fire family that your mental wellness matters — on and off duty.

Firefighting is demanding. The calls we run, the hours we work, and the weight we carry can add up. That’s why the FLOW program (Family Life Officer Wellness), your First Line of mental wellness is available free of charge to all department employees and their immediate family members, including spouses and children.

FLOW provides confidential support and resources designed specifically for first responders and their families. Whether you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, family challenges, or just need someone to talk to — help is available.

You don’t have to wait until you feel overwhelmed. Reaching out early is a sign of strength, not weakness.

If you or your family could benefit from support, please take advantage of this resource. Your mental health is just as important as your physical safety.

For more information on FLOW and the resources it can offer you follow this link: https://tinyurl.com/yh55zpah

05/26/2026

Today we pause to honor the life of Irmo Firefighter James Michael Muller, who died in the line of duty three years ago during response efforts to a massive fire at Tropical Ridge Apartments.

As firefighters, may we all continue to live our oath and commitment to serving as he did.

05/25/2026

All gave some. Some gave all. 🇺🇸

Today we remember the heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the American freedoms we hold dear.

May we always remember them and their legacies in our hearts and minds.