Fire Evacuation at the Oregon Lottery Building

Fire fighters after the Lottery building fire was extinguished. Photo By: Bill Holmstrom

(Salem) - An out of the ordinary sight could be had outside the Oregon Lottery building Wednesday morning, just before 11:00. That`s when the fire alarm went off, sending 300 people onto the lottery lawn, fire trucks in route.

Captain Don Fleck requested a first alarm assignment, sending a total of 3 Engines, 1 Ladder Truck, and a Battalion Chief to the scene at 500 Airport Road SE, Salem. When they arrived, they discovered smoke on the second floor of the building.

Thermal imaging cameras were used, and fire was discovered in the ceiling of the second floor hallway. Fire Fighters quickly extinguished the fire and were able to stop it from spreading to the rest of the building. Fire Fighter/Paramedic Brad Paris stated "the thermal imaging camera, indicated that temperatures in the ceiling were way over 120 degrees."

The cause was determined to be an electrical malfunction to an exit sign in the hallway of the second floor.

The building was evacuated for about 30 minutes. No injuries were reported and the fire caused very minimal damage.