Salem Church Evacuated Over Smoke

One of Salem's biggest

The Morning Star Community Church is one of Salem's biggest Photo Courtesy: Bill Holmstrom/Salem Fire

(SALEM) - An employee of Morning Star Community Church in Salem was on the ball Thursday, discovering smoke throughout the house of worship shortly after 11:00 AM.

Salem Fire Spokesman Bill Holmstrom says Rocky Wing, an employee at the church which is located at 4775 27th Avenue SE, discovered smoke inside the auditorium of the church. He then found the church office next to the auditorium full of smoke.

Salem Fire Department received the call for a smoke in a structure at 11:16 AM Thursday. The first units arriving on the scene reported smoke in the auditorium. Firefighters shut the power to the electrical equipment off in the auditorium after noticing that it smelled like an electrical fire.

Firefighters evacuated approximately 25 people from the church while they searched for the cause of the smoke.

Using thermal imaging cameras, teams discovered the amplifier was the source of the smoke. It was determined the amplifier malfunctioned and heated up causing the smoke.

Firefighters used large fans to remove smoke from the building. The occupants were able to return inside by 11:45. No injuries were reported as Mr. Wing's discovery of the smoke was timely, and damage was limited to the amplifier.