Fire Destroys West Salem Home

The cause of the fire was an electrical malfunction.

Photo: Salem Fire Department

(SALEM, Ore. ) - On Saturday at 1:56 PM, a first alarm assignment (3 Engines, Ladder Truck, Medic Unit and Battalion Chief) responded to an Structure Fire at 3386 Champlain Drive NW.

Enroute firefighters could see a large column of smoke coming from the area, a second alarm was called bringing more firefighters and equipment to the scene.

When firefighters arrived on scene, the front portion of the home and the front yard was fully involved with fire.

Neighbors stated to firefighters that they were almost certain that the occupants were still inside.

Firefighters went into rescue mode.

They were greeted by a wall of fire and temperatures way over a 1,000 degrees.

Firefighters searched the building for over 30-minutes without discovering anybody inside.

Later it was discovered that the occupants were not inside and they were actually in Portland at the time of the fire.

It took fire fighters approximately 45-minutes to have the fire under control.

Approximately 5 firefighters were evaluated by paramedics due to heat.

The occupants Gene and Doris Magee who are the owners arrived on scene approximately 2-hours after the fire originated.

Red Cross was notified to assist the family.

The loss is estimated at $250,000 ($175,000 Structure & $75,000 Contents).

Salem fire investigators determined the fire originated in the upstairs bedroom. The cause was an electrical malfunction.