Neighbors Alert Family of Their House on Fire

Unidentified neighbors alerted the occupants that their house was on fire.

Fire at 2020 Park Avenue Photo courtesy: Bill Holmstrom/Salem Fire

(SALEM) - John DeLeon Jr. and his two sons were asleep when neighbors pounded on their front door alerting them that their house was on fire. The resident of at 2020 Park Avenue NE exited his house to discover that the fire was on his rear deck of his partially attached garage.

Salem Fire received the call for a structure fire at 8:36 AM. The first alarm sent Firefighters arriving on the scene reported a fully involved patio area. By this point, fire had entered the garage. Firefighters, on scene within minutes of the dispatch, were able to fight the fire and keep it from spreading into the home.

A 1968 Chevrolet Camaro was inside the garage at the time of the fire.

The fire caused no injuries. It was determined that it originated in a recycle bin located on the southeast corner of the patio. A Salem Fire Investigator determined that either a cigarette improperly discarded in the recycle bin or a spark from a wood burning fire pit that sat on the patio started the fire. Damage was estimated to be at $20,000.

Salem firefighters says it is very important to never leave a burning fire pit unattended. The safest thing you can do is pour sand on the fire to extinguish it prior to leaving it. Salem Firefighters have responded to numerous cigarette-originated fires. Please make sure you dispose of your cigarettes by placing them in a metal can full of sand or water.