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17 Jun, 2015 11:46

Fire breaks out at South Carolina retirement home (PHOTOS)

Fire breaks out at South Carolina retirement home (PHOTOS)

A fire broke out at a South Carolina retirement home on Wednesday, sending about seven residents to the hospital. Around 80 people were evacuated from the premises.

Three residents were rescued from the building in Columbia, S.C., and taken to the hospital, while four others were taken as a precaution, WLTX 19 reported.

Their condition is unknown at this time.

DELAYED:1:30pm 1720 Devonshire Dr 3alarm fire commercial retirement facility/@ 80 residents evac/3 transport hospital pic.twitter.com/LOrjBE7Xvi

— Columbia Fire (@ColaFire) June 17, 2015

According to the Columbia Fire Department, five people were taken to the hospital as a precaution, "not related to the incident."

The blaze started on the third floor of Forest Pines Retirement Residence at around 1:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, local news channel WIS-TV 10 reported.

UPDATE-- Crews are prepping to transport the last group of residents at Forest Pines to King Park @wachfoxpic.twitter.com/HnCcGfLEev

— Destiny Chance WACH (@WACHDestiny) June 17, 2015

The facility holds about 100 residents, 80 of whom were evacuated, Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins said.

8 taken to hospital, cause still unknown in retirement home fire| http://t.co/gIvFgZsiV6#News19#SCNews#SCTweetspic.twitter.com/D5lTo3teSd

— News 19 WLTX (@WLTX) June 17, 2015

The residents were initially held on a mass evacuation truck, but have since been transported to an indoor facility at King Park in Columbia.

Fire crews have managed to contain the fire, and police are assisting at the scene.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. Columbia Fire Department has estimated the damage at $1 million.

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