Child deceased after structure fire on Quail Drive

A four-year-old male lost his life this afternoon after a fire in northeast Columbia.  

Columbia Fire Department crews located the child in a bedroom of a burning residence at 2706 Quail Drive shortly after 12:18 p.m. today. Columbia Police detectives have identified the child as Zadrian Harper, 4, of Columbia.

Columbia Fire was dispatched to the residential structure fire at 12:18 p.m., followed by Columbia Police at 12:19 p.m. to assist Fire. When units arrived, they observed heavy smoke and fire coming from the front of the structure. Fire crews deployed a pre-connected hose line and made an aggressive fire attack. Witnesses on scene advised responders the child was still inside the residence. Harper was located by Fire crews during a rapid search of the home and transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Shortly after arrival at the hospital, Harper was pronounced dead by medical personnel.  

At the time of the fire, there was one adult and four children, including Harper, present within the residence. Fire crews brought the fire under control in approximately 15 minutes. Currently, Fire investigators and Columbia Police detectives are working together to determine the circumstances surrounding the structure fire and heartbreaking death of Harper. There were no further reported injuries as a result of this fire, and the amount of property damage is unknown at this time. The investigation is on-going.

CPD: 2017-005355