According to the National Fire Protection Association from 2020 through 2024, there was an average of 835 home structure fires each year that began with decorations. These fires caused an annual average of three civilian fire deaths, 29 civilian fire injuries and $18 million in direct property damages.

Here are some tips from the Columbia-Richland Fire Department on how to keep your Halloween festivities fun and fire-safe:

• When choosing a costume, stay away from long trailing fabric. If your child is wearing a mask, make sure the eyeholes are large enough so he or she can see out.
• Provide children with flashlights to carry for lighting or glow sticks as part of their costume.
• Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper catch fire easily. Keep all decorations away from open flames and other heat sources like light bulbs and heaters.
• Use a battery-operated candle or glow-stick in jack-o-lanterns. If you use a real candle, use extreme caution. Make sure children are watched at all times when candles are lit. When lighting candles inside jack-o-lanterns, use long, fireplace-style matches or a utility lighter. Be sure to place lit pumpkins well away from anything that can burn and far enough out of the way of trick-or-treaters, doorsteps, walkways and yards.

• Use extension cords properly for powering Halloween decorations. Dispose of cords that are frayed or damaged and run cords in a way where they won’t become a tripping hazard.
• Remember to keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes.
• Make sure all smoke alarms in the home are working.
• Tell children to stay away from open flames including jack-o-lanterns with candles in them. Be sure they know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire. (Have them practice, stopping immediately, dropping to the ground, covering their face with hands, and rolling over and over to put the flames out.)
• Extinguish candles by taking away oxygen from the wick. You can use a candlesnuffer to extinguish your candles or other non-combustible materials. Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep.
• Keep candles at least 1 foot (30 centimeters) away from anything that can burn.
• Use candleholders that are sturdy, and won’t tip over easily.
• Put candleholders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface.
• Light candles carefully. Keep your hair and any loose clothing away from the flame.
• Don’t burn a candle all the way down — put it out before it gets too close to the holder or container.
• Never use a candle if oxygen is used in the home.
• Have flashlights and battery-powered lighting ready to use during a power outage. Never use candles.

Finally, NEVER ever leave a child alone in a room with a burning candle!  Keep matches and lighters up high and out of children’s reach, in a locked cabinet.

The post Tips from CRFD to have a Fun and Fire-Safe Halloween appeared first on Columbia Fire Department.

Members of the Columbia-Richland Fire Department, the Columbia Police Department, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and Richland County EMS joined forces with Richland County officials to promote the ‘Slow Down, Move Over’ campaign.’ The campaign is a nationwide public safety initiative promoting compliance with “move over” laws in all 50 states. These laws require drivers to slow down and change lanes when approaching an emergency vehicle with flashing lights stopped on or beside a roadway.

For firefighters, police officers and EMS crews working on the highway, having that crucial space can mean the difference between life and death.

“Ultimately that is what brought us together to collaborate on this public awareness campaign,” said Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins, “Whether it’s our firefighters taking care of motorists after a car wreck or police officers making traffic stops, we are all often on the roads with cars going at a high rate of speed. We can’t help others if you don’t help us, so please slow down and move over.”

Collaboration between the agencies included Richland County producing a joint Public Service Announcement (PSA) that has been released online and on television. Agencies will also be pursuing other avenues to promote the campaign over the coming weeks.

Joint Press Conference For’Slow Down, Move Over’ Campaign – October 13, 2026

South Carolina’s “Move Over Law” requires drivers to slow down and change lanes when approaching a stopped, authorized vehicle with flashing lights, or to proceed with caution if a lane change is unsafe. Failure to do so can result in a misdemeanor violation punishable by a fine of $300 to $500.

According to the Emergency Responder Safety Institute, about 50 emergency responders are killed annually by vehicle strikes while responding to roadway incidents. The goal of the “Slow Down, Move Over” campaign is to reduce preventable fatalities and injuries to first responders and roadside workers.

The post Drivers Urged to ‘Slow Down, Move Over’ for First Responders on the Roads appeared first on Columbia Fire Department.

For the second straight year the parade cruised through neighborhoods along Barhamville Road in Columbia passing by four area schools. Dozens of people lined the parade route as Columbia-Richland firetrucks and other participants made their way from W.A. Perry Middle School to the Charles R. Drew Wellness Center.

“It was a great joy for us to see so many teachers, faculty at the schools and students come out to cheer us on,” said Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins, “Ultimately this parade is about promoting the important message of fire safety in our communities and a big part of that is bringing it to our area youth. I am also thankful for the incredible support we get each year from area sponsors to make this event a great success.”

A Community Block Party was hosted at Drew Wellness Center following the parade featuring free food and giveaways. CRFD firetrucks were also joined in the parade procession by units from South Carolina State Fire, Kershaw County Fire Service, Lexington County Fire Service and the West Columbia Fire Department.

Each year the event is hosted to promote the important safety message of National Fire Prevention Week. This year that theme from the National Fire Protection Association is ‘Charge Into Fire Safety,’ which seeks to promote fire safe charging practices for battery-powered appliances.

View all the photos from this year’s parade by clicking here!

The Columbia-Richland Fire Department would like to thank our community sponsors who helped make this year’s Fire Prevention Parade a great success!!

Paul Davis Restoration

Sam’s Club on Harbison Boulevard

QuikFix Chef Andre Mack

State Farm Insurance (Agents Ruthlie Israel & Nora Hubbard)

Costco Wholesale

Natasha Thomas

Kimberly Bates

Tori Neumon

Terrance Dupree

Charles R. Drew Wellness Center

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The Fairfield County Council presented an honorary proclamation to CRFD and all other agencies that assisted during the massive fire at MLily USA in August 2026.

Hazmat 1 and other Columbia-Richland FD members responded to the fire at the mattress factory on Sunday August 16 and again on Monday August 17. Columbia firefighters assisted responders in Fairfield County with fire suppression on scene and then with chemical identification at the site as well as air monitoring. The fire ultimately reignited several times and left the facility a complete loss.

On hand for the recognition were Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins as well as Senior Firefighter Robert McConnell and Senior Firefighter Daniel Johnson, who both responded to the incident on Hazmat 1.

(from left: Senior Firefighter Robert McConnell & Senior Firefighter Daniel Johnson)

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Firefighters on Engine 1, Rescue 1, Engine 6 and Ladder 7 1st Shift earned an Honorable Mention for the Unit Citation award from Firehouse Magazine. This recognition appeared in the June issue of the magazine, which has the highest circulation rate among fire departments across the U.S.

All four crews worked to save man’s life after his vehicle crashed off of I-126 in Columbia in March of 2025. The vehicle entered the Broad River and caught fire on impact.

I-126 Crash, March 2025

On August 25 firefighters involved in the rescue came together to each receive a copy of the magazine from Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins. Each station also received a certificate from Firehouse Magazine commemorating the achievement.

Congratulations to Engine 1, Rescue 1, Engine 6 and Ladder 7  1st Shift for earning this prestigious honor from their firefighting peers!

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A total of 15 teenagers took part in two sessions of the academy that were held during the 2026 summer. Both sessions concluded with graduation exercises where the teens were congratulated by Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins and community leaders.

“I am thrilled that this summer program continues to have tremendous success each year thanks in large part to our partnership with the Columbia Urban League,” Chief Jenkins said, “Leaders there first came to us asking if we could build a program that would not only teach our youth about the fire service but also impart to them skills in life. Through the dedicated work that our members have put into the academy and the strong partnerships they have built with agencies across our state, this program continues to grow in its scope and I can’t wait to see what the future brings for it.”

Through the Columbia Urban League’s support each summer, CRFD’s Youth Empowerment Academy provides structured engaging learning experiences centered on the fire service and public safety education. Teens in each session of the program take part in hands-on activities, mentorship time and job-readiness training. The program offers an alternative educational approach designed to promote personal growth and career awareness.

Each session of this summer’s academy lasted two weeks with the first session beginning on Monday June 15. Nine teens completed that session and graduated on Friday June 26.

A second session of the academy began on Monday July 13 and concluded on Friday July 24 with six teens graduating.

2026 CRFD Youth Empowerment Academy

Graduation for Session 2 on Friday July 24, 2026

In addition to touring several CRFD facilities and stations and completing hands-on exercises at the department’s training grounds, participants in the academy also visited many other agencies and sites in Columbia and beyond. This included the South Carolina Fire Academy, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and college campus tours at Claflin University and Charleston Southern University.

CRFD wants to congratulate the following teens

that completed this summer’s CRFD Youth Empowerment Academy.

Session 1

          Kamren Bostic                                                           Chase Boyd

               Micah Bray                                                                     Joshua Brazzle

Nkeyah Gantt                                                                    Deniria Lorick

              Christopher Parker                                               Morgan Thompson

            Dante Williams

Session 2

                Parker Jordan                                                            Chandler Leonard

                 Jayla Mack                                                                  Makayla Mackey

                 Eva Marsh                                                              Miyah McDade

The post Fifteen Area Teens Learn Skills for Success at 2026 CRFD Youth Empowerment Academy appeared first on Columbia Fire Department.

Crews arrived shortly before 9:30 p.m. to find smoke showing from the home. Firefighters forced entry through the front door and immediately encountered heavy smoke and rapidly deteriorating interior conditions. The fire was located in the front of the home.

Rescue 1 began searching the structure alongside Engine 1 and Ladder 7. During the search, firefighters located three children in and near several bedrooms. They were brought outside, provided immediate medical care for severe burn injuries, and transferred to Richland County EMS for transport to a local hospital. From there they were taken to the JMS Burn Center in Augusta for further treatment. Thankfully they were released from the hospital in early July.

While the rescues were underway, the fire was quickly brought under control and extinguished. No adults were found in or around the property at the time of the fire.

The Columbia Police Department investigated circumstances surrounding the incident and have charged the mother of the children and one of their fathers with three counts of unlawful conduct towards a child.

They were arraigned in court on July 1 and are currently awaiting trial.

The post 1st Shift Crews Rescue Three Children From Columbia House Fire appeared first on Columbia Fire Department.

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CRFD 1st Shift crews on Engine 1, Rescue 1, Engine 6 and Ladder 7 were selected to receive the prestigious Meritorious Award of the South Carolina State Firefighters Association. The award is presented to firefighters or fire departments, which have rendered services beyond the ordinary course of duty in an attempt to save a life.

All four companies took swift and decisive actions to rescue a man following a fiery motor vehicle accident that happened on I-126 in Columbia in March 2025. Many of the firefighters who were involved in the rescue were presented with the award during the conference’s awards banquet and transfer of command ceremony Saturday night June 13 in Myrtle Beach.

Honorees who were unable to attend the ceremony received their awards during a presentation at CRFD Headquarters on June 17.

CRFD 1^st Shift members on Ladder 7 and Engine 6 receive the SCSFA Meritorious Award during a presentation at CRFD Headquarters on Wednesday June 17.

“Our firefighters overcame a lot of challenges when they responded to that call last year,’’ said Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins, “The car involved left I-126 where the interstate spans the Broad River. After it left the roadway, the vehicle plummeted off the bridge, crashed near the riverbank below and caught fire on impact. Companies who were first on scene had to come up with an effective response plan quickly to give them the best chance to save this man’s life.’’

I-126 Vehicle Wreck – March 12, 2025

Responding crews were able to get access to the crash site using the city’s river walk. Firefighters also worked from the bridge above to put out the vehicle fire and repel down needed supplies to the scene.

“We had Ladder 7 there and they ended up repelling down with some equipment to help assist the guys who were already down there working on the entrapment.’’ Rescue 1 Captain Chris Byrd said the day of the incident, “We took (the driver) down the riverwalk. EMS actually drove the ambulance straight towards (the scene).’’

Crews were able to extricate the driver from the vehicle and hand him off to Richland County EMS for transport to an area hospital.  He would go on to survive the incident. Following a lengthy hospital stay, multiple surgeries and physical therapy, he has been able to recover and regain his mobility through use of a prosthetic. He was on hand to congratulate the firefighters at the awards banquet.

“I am truly proud of the work our members put together in their response to this call,’’ Chief Jenkins, ‘’it demonstrates the constant training that our firefighters undertake and how that training and dedication to their crafts pays off. They truly are deserving of this honor for the difference they made on that fateful day last year.’’

CRFD 1^st Shift members on Engine 1, Rescue 1, Ladder 7 and Engine 6 receive the Meritorious Award from the South Carolina State Firefighters Association during their annual awards banquet.

This is the second time in four years that CRFD firefighters have been recognized with the Meritorious Award. During SCSFA’s conference in 2022, companies with the department received two of the awards. Nine CRFD firefighters received one ‘Meritorious Award’ for their work rescuing a mother and her child from a fast-moving house fire that happened in February of 2021. Both victims were found unconscious in the home by firefighters and quickly moved out of the structure through a window as conditions inside deteriorated. Firefighters then began performing CPR on both patients until EMS transported them from the scene. While the child unfortunately passed away days later the mother did survive the incident.

The second ‘Meritorious Award’ was presented to CRFD 1st Shift crews that responded to a water rescue on the Broad River in August of 2020. The incident unfolded when a teenage boy fell on the low head dam near the Columbia Canal and his foot became entrapped in rocks and debris beneath the surface of the water. Fire crews worked for a period of several hours to free the teen and get him to safety all while the water level on the river was rising and weather conditions deteriorated. The teen escaped the incident with no injuries.

CRFD would like to congratulate the following firefighters for being selected to receive the Meritorious Award this year from the South Carolina State Firefighters Association.

Rescue Company 1 (1^st Shift)                Engine Company 1 (1^st Shift)

Fire Captain Christopher Byrd                    Fire Captain Nicholas Branham

Engineer Campbell Jacobs                         Engineer Nicholas Finley

Senior Firefighter Ryan Espling                  Senior Firefighter Desiree Colon

Senior Firefighter Zachary Finch                 Firefighter Cameron Jones

Ladder Company 7 (1^st Shift)                Engine Company 6 (1^st Shift)

Fire Captain Blake Cartee                         Fire Captain Davis Taylor

Engineer Richard Shell                              Engineer Sean Stephens

Senior Firefighter Cameron Ingram            Senior Firefighter Alexander Papalazarou

Firefighter Taylor Crews                            Firefighter Jackson Rish

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Twenty-seven teams competed in this year’s competition on Saturday morning March 28. For the second straight spring the event took place in its new home in downtown Columbia near Hampton and Main streets.

The Columbia-Richland Fire Department was proud to once again provide the fire engines and the staff to make the contest possible.

“The competition truly gets our members excited each spring,” said Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins, “Not only are our firefighters eager to get a team together and try for the best pull time but they also take a great deal of pride in showing support for kids who are fighting for their very lives. We are grateful to our partners at Curing Kids Cancer for inviting us to collaborate on this idea thirteen years ago and we love that it has done so much good for the kids and their families.”

“Every year, this event means more to us than words can fully express—not just as an organization, but as a family,” said Grainne Owen, co-founder and CEO of Curing Kids Cancer. “We started this work in honor of my son, Killian, and it’s incredibly moving to see this community continue to show up for us year after year. Their compassion and support mean everything to us. Because of them, we’re able to fund lifesaving research right here in South Carolina that leads to individualized treatments for children—giving families real hope and more precious time. It means that other families may not have to walk the same heartbreaking path we did. This amazing gift of hope we can give to the children and their families is priceless!”

Members of the Irmo Fire District took home this year’s top prize for pull time. ‘Irmo Fire Strongmen Pulling for Logan’ pulled one of the fire engines down a stretch of the street in 17.68 seconds. ‘Michelin Yellow Pulling for Charlie’ finished with the second best pull time at 18.97 seconds.

Irmo Fire Strongmen Pulling for Logan

Every team that took part in the event pulled in support of or in memory of a child who has been touched by cancer.

‘Teagan’s Tribe’ recorded the highest amount in donations raised and two teams would be recognized for their creative costumes: ‘Curella’s Crew Pulling for Jackson and DeVill’s Dogs Pulling for Arianna.’

All proceeds raised from the event will go to fund pediatric cancer research at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital–Midlands, which is leading the charge in innovative treatments for childhood cancers.

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