Man In Serious Injury Crash Connected to Arson Fire

The resident of the home that burned was involved in a weather related single car crash as firefighters battled the flames.

Photo courtesy: Bill Holmstrom/Salem Fire

(SALEM, Ore.) - Salem Fire Department received the call for a structure at 1940 Lana Ave NE fire at 4:22 AM this morning and the first arriving crews found a mobile home and attached shed fully involved with fire.

Salem Fire Spokesman Bill Holmstrom says firefighters battled the blaze at the home of 76-year old Donald Hirschy for over 15-minutes to keep flames from both burning structures from spreading to any neighboring homes. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the building of origin.

He says the mobile home and its contents were destroyed by the fire. A Salem Fire investigator was called out to the scene at 4:46 am. During his investigation he requested assistance from Salem Police Investigator.

Salem Police say the same resident received serious injuries when his car struck a concrete barrier at the intersection of River Road South and Vitae Springs Road South a short time after the fire, around 5:00 AM. Lt. Steve Birr conformed to reporters that the man from the crash was the resident of 1940 Lana Avenue NE.

Birr says that when the fire was burning, there had been some concern that the home's resident was still inside, and firefighters were still working the blaze when the crash call came in.

Salem Police now say the fire was intentionally set and Donald Hirschy is the suspect.

"Preliminary indications are the fire at the house was intentionally set," Birr told the Statesman Journal. Hirschy is considered a suspect in the arson.

Birr said the crash initially appears to have been weather-related. Hirschy is being treated at Salem Hospital. There were no reported injuries from the fire.

The investigation will continue throughout the day. Damage was estimated to be over $20,000.