One woman is in custody on suspicion of arson following a residential fire at a duplex in Columbia on Friday morning.
Police arrested 31-year-old Anjaleque Bragg in connection with the blaze at a two-story duplex in the 1900 block of Newton Drive around 10 a.m., according to the Columbia Police Department. Authorities charged her with first-degree arson and first-degree assault.
Columbia fire crews arrived to find flames coming from the duplex and immediately began battling the fire while entering the building to search for any remaining occupants, according to a news release from the Columbia Fire Department.
All residents had evacuated before responders arrived. Officials transported one resident to a local hospital by ambulance for an unrelated injury, according to the release.
Firefighters encountered intense heat and heavy flames inside the structure but managed to bring the fire under control within four minutes, according to the release.
Crews stayed on scene for about two hours to complete overhaul operations, ensure the fire was fully extinguished, and assist the Columbia Fire Marshal’s Battalion with the investigation, according to the release.
A total of 22 personnel responded to the incident, including five companies, three battalion chiefs, a safety officer, and a fire marshal.
The investigation into the cause of the fire remains ongoing.