No Injuries in Salem Townhouse Fire

Firefighters battled the blaze for approximately 20-minutes before they had it under control.

A Salem firefighter inspects damage from the fire on Fairway Avenue SE. Photo courtesy: Bill Holmstrom/Salem Fire

(SALEM, Ore.) - Firefighters say a smoldering cigarette butt in an outdoor smoking area is to blame for a fire that raged through a Salem townhouse Friday night.

Salem Fire Department Spokesman Bill Holmstrom, says firefighters were called out to the scene Friday at 9:05 PM on a first alarm assignment, which sent 3 Engines, a Ladder Truck, a Medic Unit and a Battalion Chief to the apartment fire at 6467 Fairway Avenue SE.

Holmstrom said, "When firefighters arrived on scene they had flames shooting approximately 20-feet above the rear of this two-story townhouse."

He says a second alarm was called at 9:06 PM, bringing more firefighters and equipment to the scene. Local resident Shane Young said the fire vehicles just kept racing by to the fire, one after another. "There were like eleven of them, I didn't even know they had that many fire engines in Salem, I knew they must have really had something burning."

Holmstrom says crews starting fighting the fire at the rear of the structure, where the fire originated.

"By time the firefighters arrived on scene the fire had penetrated into the attic. Firefighters battled the blaze for approximately 20-minutes before they had it under control."

He said that fortunately, no injuries occurred from this fire.

"The cause of the fire was determined to be a smoldering cigarette. The occupant stated that friends had been smoking on the back patio where the fire had started."

Holmstrom says the occupant was renting and did not have renter insurance. He was staying with friends until his home could be repaired.

The loss associated with this fire is estimated at $75,000 according to Holmstrom, $70,000 for the Structure & another $5,000 for the contents.