COLUMBIA, S.C. —
The Columbia Fire Department said they will need several more days to inspect the Boulder Creek Apartments in Columbia after earlier problems led to the evacuation of one building on the property.
The inspection started after the Columbia Fire Department deemed one building unsafe for residents to live in last Sunday. The department also ordered an evacuation forcing some residents to move out. The fire department said hazardous electrical materials were found in one building during their initial Sunday, causing lights to flicker on and off.
Since then, the fire marshal's office said it has found other problems.
“We did our inspections along with the property maintenance guys," said Columbia-Richland Chief Fire Marshal George Adams. "And so, you know, typical missing smoke alarms, missing seal arms, water leaks and mold. So we were finding that quite often in several apartments."
The inspection was on day five on Friday, There are 17 units in total and there are 13 units left to inspect.
“It takes some time, because they don't have the manpower to open up every doors in one day. So we're going to do it no four units a day,” Adams said. ““I think if we educate property management, and they educate the owners and also educate the residents, because some things that the residents can do as well, like making sure that they smoke alarms working properly.”
Asset Living, the management company for Boulder Creek Apartments, issued a statement Friday. "We are also working with impacted residents to transfer to new units onsite, provide accommodations and release them from their lease agreements We realize this is a difficult inconvenience to some of our valued residents and will continue to respond promptly throughout the hardship."
The apartment complex also has put several people up in hotels.
The fire department will give the list of repairs to the apartment managers. "We're going to write everything up, we're going to send it in, and then we'll give them ample time to fix those," Adams said. "However, the severe violation needs to be addressed immediately."
The inspections are expected to continue until Tuesday.