x
Breaking News
More () »

Here's what sparked the fire at the Richland Mall, according to the fire chief

Firefighters responded to the scene off Forest Drive shortly after 3:30 p.m.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Columbia firefighters say a large fire is out at the site where the old Richland Mall is being demolished after flames began consuming some of the structure. 

The fire department said second-shift crews were fighting the fire that broke out Wednesday afternoon at the old shopping center's site, which is at the corner of Beltline Boulevard and Forest Drive. 

Firefighters said they responded to the scene shortly after 3:30 p.m. to find heavy fire from a debris pile on one corner of the building. Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins said demolition crews were doing some cutting on the third floor of the structure where the old movie theater was located when sparks started coming from the torch. 

"(The fire) got up in the membranes, in the roofing area," Jenkins said. 

Crews were checking for hotspots at the scene, but the threat is over. 

No injuries have been reported.

Forest Drive was closed to traffic in both directions near Beltline Boulevard, but traffic resumed as normal just before 6 p.m.

The last store in the mall, Barnes & Noble, closed last December. The mall is being torn down as part of a remodeling and revitalization of the area. When it's finished, the site will have a mix of retail space and housing, but the project is expected to take years to complete. 

Before You Leave, Check This Out