Suspected Arson Fire Sends Person to the Hospital

Salem-News.com

(Salem) - Firefighters responding to a structure fire Monday night put the flames out quickly, but one of the occupants of an upstairs unit above the fire was treated by firefighter/paramedics and transported to Salem Hospital.

Crews rolled onto the scene at 2451 Trade Street SE on Sunday evening at 6:10 PM. Firefighters say they discovered a small fire in a crawl space of the two-story house that had been converted into 2 apartment units. The fire was quickly extinguished.

Salem Fire's Bill Holmstrom says the resident of the first floor was in the process of moving out and wasn't home at the time of the fire. The second floor renter was home when they smelled smoke and called 9-1-1.

Investigators determined the fire to be arson after discovering multiple places in the crawl space where fires appeared to have been intentionally set. Holmstrom says the fire caused minimal damage to the structure.

Salem Police are continuing the investigation into the fire at 2451 Trade Street SE. It is reported that the person transported to the hospital was in good condition.