3-Alarm Fire in Metropolitan Building in Historic Downtown Salem

Traffic on Liberty Street through downtown Salem was blocked for approximately an hour during the heaviest traffic of the day.

Photo: Salem Fire

(SALEM) - Smoke coming from a building in downtown Salem Friday afternoon sent Salem Fire Department to 160 Liberty St NE at about 4:30.

First arriving firefighters saw heavy smoke coming from the backside of the building when they arrived with 3 Engines, 1 Ladder Truck, and a Battalion Chief.

Crews forced their way into the unoccupied Metropolitan Building. Their primary search revealed smoke and flames coming from an electrical control panel inside the building. A second alarm was dispatched at 4:38 PM and third-alarm at 4:54 PM bringing additional fire apparatus and firefighters to the scene.

Firefighters were concerned with the fire extending into the adjoining buildings of this 4-1/2 story older, downtown building, which shares common walls with other businesses.

The Metropolitan Building is in the process of undergoing a complete renovation according to the building’s owner, Scott McKinney. The building is currently valued at approximately $1.5 million dollars.

Because this was a charged electrical fire, firefighters were unable to use water to put out the fire until the electricity to the building was turned off.

Firefighters aggressively used carbon dioxide to extinguish the flames and stop the fire before it extended to any adjoining buildings. A thermal imaging camera was used to determine that no fire had extended into other areas of the building.

The electrical panel was determined to be the source of the fire, which caused minor damage to the building.

Traffic on Liberty Street through downtown Salem was blocked for approximately an hour during the heaviest traffic of the day. No injuries were reported due to the fire.