Salem Family Aborts Coastal Getaway to Find Home Ablaze

The quick actions of Salem firefighters prevented the home from becoming a total loss.

An injured Salem firefighter is escorted to an ambulance after receiving a minor injury. Photos by Jerry Freeman Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - A Salem family's weekend getaway to the Oregon coast was cut short Friday night, when they received a phone call advising them that their home on Jones Road was on fire.

The family that lives in the residence at 5167 Jones Road SE, turned around and arrived to see their garage severely damaged, but the home, thanks to the quick actions of firefighters, was still still primarily intact.

The resident, who wished to not use his name, said "What am I going to do? It's my father-in-law's house. I'm just glad nobody was home, especially the kids."

The first call to 911 came in at 9:31 p.m. Salem Fire crews arrived at the scene minutes later, where firefighters found flames rolling out of the garage doors.

After working several hours S.F.D. extinguished the flames, containing damage to the garage, and the attic.

One firefighter suffered minor injuries to his leg or ankle, says Battalion Chief Tom Nelson.

Deputy Fire Marshal John Stroebel tells us that the fire started in the electric panel, and spread to items stacked against that wall. It then traveled into the attic.

A friend of the residents emphasized that it certainly could have gone worse.

"I'll tell you one thing for the record, the firefighters were extremely courteous and professional."