Burnt Wire

The column you're dealing with is and impact energy absorbing steering column, it is not rigidly mounted anywhere. There are plastic spacers designed to slide and or break away if need be in the event of an accident. I can see one in your pictures. At the bottom that column is surrounded by a rubber weather boot the boot is bolted to the firewall . The column has no mechanical connection to the fire wall. It supposed to be able to move in case of accident