COLUMBIA, S.C. — Some residents at a Columbia apartment complex off Broad River Road are having to be evacuated. That’s after the Columbia Fire Department said there were problems with some electrical problems.
Residents came home Sunday evening to Boulder Creek Apartments to yellow notices on their doors saying that their building has been declared unsafe and that it would be evacuated immediately.
Hotels were provided for residents in those units but most decided to spend the night, which is no longer an option Monday night as electricity has been turned off in those units.
Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins says during an inspection yesterday, there were alarming things discovered.
“We had some extinguishers that were missing. Also we had water stains in the ceiling so they told us that there was some type of electrical problem because the lights were flickering. So because it was doing that, obviously we didn’t want something to happen, and we leave folks in there and they come back to some type of fire with all them issues,” said Jenkins. "So, we just deemed it unsafe and ordered the management to kind of evacuate the apartment until they get those things straight.”
Some residents invited News19 in their homes, where we saw lights hanging from the ceilings with exposed electrical wires and lights that were flickering on and off.
One resident said she fears for the safety of her entire family. “I want to first say my entire floor is wet almost all of the time, so with the fact that there are electrical issues that just lets me know me, my cat, my husband, my four-year-old child could literally get electrocuted at any time and that’s dangerous.”
Residents shared their frustration from what they say is a lack of action from property management.
“We went to the office. They gave us the information for extended stay on Forest Drive. They said they were going to put us in there for only one day and after that we had to figure it out. They told us to come to the office today," said a resident. "They didn’t give us a time and they're going to help us with the situation. They have not called nobody’s phone, they have not knocked on nobody’s doors. We’re all still waiting here, and its not fair.”
News19 reached out to the property managers for a statement or plan of action but never heard back.
The Columbia Fire Department tells News19 they plan on visiting and inspecting other buildings in the apartment complex.