Authorities in Columbia County say it took an alarm company two hours to respond a massive fire at a retirement community.

The blaze destroyed Marshall Square in Evans early Tuesday morning. One woman was killed and around 90 residents are looking for temporary housing.

The Augusta Chronicle reports that the first 911 call about the fire came from someone inside the building at 3:19 am. At 5:13, the same dispatcher took a call from Security Central about a fire.

Fire Battalion Chief Jeremy Wallen says his department has received timely calls about alarms at the home in the past.

A shift supervisor at Security Central declined to comment to the newspaper.

Meanwhile, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms have been brought in to help determine the cause of the fire.

Tags: marshall square, Evans