Author: SPY
Columbia Borough Meetings – Week of January 6, 2020
Officials investigate why smoke detector did not sound during deadly fire in Columbia
Columbia Fire Chief Doug Kemmerly compares the melted smoke detector from the house fire to a new one.
We’re learning more about how officials say the Saturday morning fire that killed a 20-year-old Columbia woman and her two-year-old daughter could have been prevented.
Columbia Borough Fire Chief Douglas Kemmerly told FOX43 Monday that the home on the 200 block of South Second Street had just one smoke detector, and it wasn’t working at the time of the fire.
As family and neighbors mourn the loss of two young people, Kemmerly and Columbia Borough’s Department of Codes are trying to figure out why the detector didn’t sound.
According to Kemmerly, the battery inside the detector had “enough juice”; firefighters also found it mounted on a wall inside the home.
MORE:
Adult Book Club to meet at the Library – Tuesday, January 7, at 2:45 p.m.
GoFundMe account set up for funeral expenses of two lost in house fire
The link is HERE.
PreSchool Pals starts again at the Columbia Library January 6
Vigil held for two lost in house fire
On Saturday night, the community came together to remember two people who died in a fire earlier that day.
Emotions were high as family and friends gathered for a vigil in front of the home on South Second Street to remember 20-year-old Cami Combs and 2-year-old Callie Flowers, who died in what the Fire Chief Douglas Kemmerly says was an accidental fire in their home.
MORE:
https://www.wgal.com/article/vigil-held-for-two-lives-lost-in-columbia-borough-fire/30399204
Columbia community comes together to help families displaced by fire
A church is helping the families who have been displaced from their homes after a deadly fire on South Second Street.
The Columbia community responded quickly after Columbia Presbyterian Church posted on Facebook saying it was collecting donations for the families.
The Pastor, Dave Powers said, “We asked for some household goods, particularly blankets, backpacks and again clothes.”
The donations will help two families, the family who lost loved ones, 20-year-old Cami Combs and 2-year-old Callie Flowers, and the family who lived in the home next to where the fire started.
MORE:
Knife-wielding man assaults clerk, robs Chestnut Street Turkey Hill store
On 01-05-2020 at approx. 0254 hrs. the Columbia Borough Police were called to the Turkey Hill at 342 Chestnut St. for a robbery that just occurred. Police were advised that a black male, approx. 5’7″, wearing a blue and black plaid styled jacket, gray sweat pants, black shoes/sneakers and a wig entered the store and stole items. The male did have a knife and struck the clerk, knocking her to the floor. The male then fled on foot towards the area of 4th and Chestnut St.
If anyone has any information on the above incident they are asked to contact the Columbia Borough Police at 717-684-7735 or submit a tip below.
If any residents in the 100 blk. and 200 blk. of N. 4th St. have cameras outside we ask if you could review any footage close to the time of the incident to see if the suspect was in the area. If we receive better photographs of the suspect we will update this post.
The same suspect was involved in a robbery of the Turkey Hill at Prospect Rd. and Rt. 462 at approx. 0336 hrs. in West Hempfield Twp.
Date: Sunday, January 5, 2020
Reference ID: CB-20-00097
Case Status: Current
Case Type: Criminal
Source: Columbia Borough Police Department
Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/cases/robbery-4
Columbia Spy 