FROM IRMO FIRE DISTRICT – Units from the Irmo Fire District with West Columbia Fire, Lexington County Fire and the the Columbia Fire Department responded to an apartment fire Wednesday afternoon.

There were six fire trucks and 30 firefighters at the blaze at River Oaks Apartments near the 5300 block of Bush River Road.

As the Irmo Fire District units were rescuing six people from the second and third stories a mother dropped her two small children from the third story and they were caught by bystanders. The children were ages one-month and -one year.
Eight apartments were damaged by fire and 35 people were displaced, according to the American Red Cross.

The mother also jumped and suffered a leg injury. The mother and two children were transported by EMS. Eight apartments were damaged by the fire and families have been displaced. The Red Cross is on scene assisting the families. The fire has been extinguished and the scene is under control. Units are still on scene putting out hotspots. The cause of the fire is under investigation.