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Dec 01, 2023

'Unattended cooking materials' caused deadly apartment fire, Columbia fire chief says

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Columbia-Richland Fire Department crews worked to extinguish a three-alarm blaze at an apartment building and rescue three firefighters who were trapped inside, one of whom later died, on May 26, 2023. Ian Grenier/Staff

COLUMBIA — Authorities deem the cause of the May 26 apartment building fire that destroyed 19 people's homes and took the life of an Irmo firefighter to be accidental.

The blaze that resulted in the death of Irmo Firefighter James Muller was caused by "unattended cooking materials," Columbia-Richland Fire Department Chief Aubrey Jenkins said June 6.

The Columbia Police Department, State Law enforcement Division and National Response Team members of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives spent more than a week investigating the fire, which left seven firefighters injured after at least three of them had to be rescued from inside the burning, collapsing building.

"Given the tremendous impact of the fire, the injuries that several firefighters suffered, and the loss of (Muller's) life, our department wanted to have the most resources available to us as we conducted the investigation," Jenkins said in a statement.

In addition to helping with the investigation, ATF provided several cranes and other construction equipment to help "sustain the structural integrity of the building," Jenkins said.

The three-alarm fire destroyed one of the 14 apartment buildings at Tropical Ridge Apartments in the western Columbia neighborhood of St. Andrews.

Muller was among seven firefighters inside the building when it collapsed, trapping he and two others. Although all three were rescued, Muller died of his injuries. The 25-year-old firefighter was laid to rest on May 31 after a memorial service attended by hundreds of first responders from departments across the state.

The investigation has only determined the cause of the fire, not other circumstances surrounding the building's collapse or the injury to firefighters involved.

Those aspects of the investigation will be handled by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, according to Columbia Fire officials, who said this is typical following a line-of-duty death of a firefighter.

"The Columbia Fire Department has and will continue to provide needed information and resources in support of all investigations into what happened on May 26, 2023," Jenkins said.

"While it has been determined that this fire was accidental in nature, the impact it caused is no less deep and tragic. Our hearts continue to be with Firefighter Muller's family and friends, our partners at Irmo Fire District and all who continue to mourn during this difficult time."

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K-12 Education Reporter

T. Michael covers education in the Columbia area. He studied journalism at the University of South Carolina and communications at the University of Denver, and worked as a reporter covering Denver Public Schools.

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