One firefighter died and six others were injured fighting a blaze in Columbia, South Carolina, on Friday, authorities say.
Crews from the Irmo and Columbia-Richland fire departments responded to a fire at an apartment complex around 4:15 p.m., according to a Facebook post from the Columbia-Richland Fire Department.
Crews were inside a building when it collapsed. The firefighter who died, James Michael Muller, 25, was a seven-year veteran of the Irmo Fire District, said a statement from the fire district.
“He was a highly respected firefighter that had a love and passion for the job. Firefighter Muller will be greatly missed amongst his firefighting family,” the statement said.
Two other Irmo firefighters were taken to a hospital and have been released, the statement said.
Two tenants were also injured. Nineteen have been displaced.
Authorities are investigating the cause.