Salem Mother and Son Escape Fire

The cause of the fire was determined to be a malfunction of the dryer.

Damage from the fire on Vista Avenue Photo courtesy: Bill Holmstrom/Salem Fire

(SALEM, Ore.) - Salem firefighters responded to a Structure Fire at 435 Vista Avenue SE, Apt 105 at Vista Avenue Apartments Sunday just before 9:000 AM.

Salem Fire Spokesman Bill Holmstrom says that when firefighters arrived on scene, they had flames shooting out the front door of unit #105 of this multi-unit apartment complex.

A second alarm was called at 09:02 PM sending more fire fighters and fire apparatus to the scene. Holmstrom says firefighters entered the structure controlling the blaze from spreading to other units or creating any more damage to the current apartment unit. "Firefighters were able to control the fire and extinguish it within 10-minutes of their arrival."

The occupant Lora Trask-Broncheau, told investigators that stated she was drying some blankets in her dryer when it sounded like a belt was slipping or broken. She shut off the dryer and went to check on some cookies she was baking. Holmstrom says that when she returned to the dryer, flames where shooting out of the dryer door.

"She grabbed her 4-year old son and evacuated the apartment. She then started to alert her neighbors of the fire. She stated that her smoke detector did operate."

The cause of the fire was determined to be a malfunction of the dryer. The loss is estimated at $30,000 ($25,000 Structure & $5,000 Contents).