Two Firefighters Injured in Two-Alarm Fire Friday Morning in Columbia

A Friday morning fire at an apartment building in Columbia injured two firefighters and left several residents without a place to live, according to the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue.

Crews were called at about 10:15 a.m. to the 5600 block of Columbia Road. There, they saw a fully involved fire at the Avalon Fairway Hills apartment complex, according to fire department spokeswoman Jackie Cutler.

The two-alarm blaze brought in 12 units from Howard County, Baltimore city, Montgomery County and Prince George's County. They brought the fire under control in less than an hour, Cutler said.

One firefighter did suffer what was described as "a serious hand injury" and was taken to Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore. Another firefighter suffered what was described as "a minor injury" and was treated at the scene. The identities of the injured firefighters are not being released, Cutler said.

There were no other injuries, but apartment residents have been displaced, she said. The local chapter of the Red Cross is assisting them.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Photos courtesy of Doug Walton of the HowardFire blog.