COLUMBIA — Fire at a house on Clayton Street caused $20,000 in damage Friday evening, the Columbia Fire Department said in a release.
Keri Rivers, the primary tenant, her son and another male escaped unharmed along with two dogs and six puppies, according to the release. The residents were not home when the fire started but returned to discover smoke shortly before 6:30. They called 9-1-1 and removed the dogs from the house.
Firefighters had the fire under control in less than five minutes. Damage to the house was caused primarily by smoke, according to the release.
A Guinea pig was recovered unharmed from one of the bedrooms.