COLUMBIA — A north Columbia fire was extinguished quickly and left no one hurt but caused several thousand dollars in damage.
The fire was reported around 10:30 p.m. Thursday at 2904 Range Line Road, in the Colonial Village Trailer Court. The fire was extinguished in 10 minutes, and the occupant, along with his cats, were unharmed.
Damages to the home are estimated at $7,500, according to a Columbia Fire Department news release.
The fire was located near a utility room in the rear of the home, according to the fire department.
The occupant woke up to find the home filled with smoke. He left with his cats and used a cell phone to call 911.
While crews were working on the fire, the Columbia Police Department removed Andrew J. Worrall, a freelance photographer, because he failed to obey firefighters' orders, the release said.
Worrall said firefighters told him to move back, but he refused because he believed he was at a safe distance.
“Essentially, I was taking pictures, and I was in the same area that civilians were in," Worrall said.
Worrall was issued a summons on suspicion of being a disorderly person at a fire.