Residents Escape Injury in Salem House Fire (Video)

"I started hearing this, 'boom boom boom' - Neighbor Daniel Notman

Video and photos by Jerry Freeman

(SALEM, Ore.) - A residential fire broke out in a south Salem home Thursday afternoon, located on Croisan Creek Rd South.

Firefighters responded to the scene and extinguished the fire. Laird Case with Salem Fire confirmed that there were no injuries.

However two people are reportedly displaced by the fire.

Neighbor Daniel Notman was outside when he first observed the fire at the adjacent home.

"I was standing out back shooting my BB gun. All of a sudden I smelled smoke and my neighbor's house started on fire!"

Notman says it became very loud.

"I started hearing this, 'boom boom boom' it caught on fire so fast, just the flames were crazy. My mom called 911, there were like five other people who started calling 911."

As mentioned above, nobody was hurt in the fire, and Notman says that is something to appreciate.

"The owner's OK, so I'm really happy, his wife's OK, everybody's fine. It's just sad to see his house burn down, I love him. He's a nice little old man."

Jerry Freeman is part of a new generation of dedicated news photographers who entered the Internet news industry as a second career. He shares in common with many people who fulfilled their life dream of becoming a visual journalist. Joining the Navy at an early age, and the Oregon Army Guard a few years later, Jerry has a wide range of life experiences. He describes himself as “a truck driver with a new found passion to bear witness to the world’s events.” Teaming up with Salem-News.com he embarked on a new career as a video news photographer and reporter. Jerry's quick exhibition of natural talent and ability to shoot breaking news led to his becoming a published member of the Salem-News.com team.