Fire Damages Keizer Home

While crews were busy with the fire, they received another call for a motor vehicle accident on Wittenberg Lane NE.

Inside view of the cab of a Keizer Fire engine Photo by: Bonnie King

(KEIZER, Ore.) - A passing motorist alerted Keizer Fire District firefighters of a house fire early Wednesday evening at 4815 Verda Lane NE.

Fire District Spokesman Jim Trett says the motorist was driving by the residence when he said they saw smoke and flames coming from the single family residence.

The call was received by the Keizer Fire District at 7:08 PM. Trett says the first unit arrived on the scene at 7:12 PM and reported heavy smoke coming from the structure.

Upon entering the building, fire crews found a fire in the area of the kitchen stove and extinguished it. They then found that the fire had extended into the attic of the residence and they extinguished those flames also.

The fire was declared under control at 7:31 PM. Trett says 23 firefighters, three engines, one ambulance and an incident command vehicle responded to the fire. In addition, one ambulance from Rural Metro Ambulance Service in Salem responded, as the Keizer medic crew was assisting in fire suppression efforts.

Trett says the home is occupied by Steve Spier who was not home at the time the fire broke out. The property is owned by the family of Tyrene Demlinger. Demlinger told fire investigators that Spier had been remodeling the older home and had just about completed the project when the fire struck.

Fire investigators learned that the power to the residence had recently been turned off and Spier had just had the power restored at about 5:00 PM on Wednesday. Closer examination by investigators determined that a burner was in the “on” position when the power was restored and ignited materials left on the stove.

"The structure suffered fire damage in the kitchen and attic areas and the rest of the structure suffered heavy smoke and heat damage," Trett said. "No one was injured in the incident and no damage estimate was immediately available."

He says that while crews were busy with the fire, they received another call for a motor vehicle accident on Wittenberg Lane NE. "Duty Officer Dave Bauer was able to free one engine and its crew to respond to handle the accident."

Fire District officials would like to remind people to always make sure stove tops are kept free of items to lessen the likely hood of a fire breaking out, even if the burner is turned on accidentally.