Local News: : 2-Alarm Keizer Fire Leaves Family of Eight Homeless

The family of eight; Dad, Mom, and six children, ranged in age from 7 to 18 years old.

(KEIZER, Ore.) - A family in Keizer was forced to evacuate their home late in the night when the unknown odor in the home grew to the point- smoke drove them from the house. Keizer Police and Firefighters arrived to find a fully involved garage fire that extended into the house and burned to the second floor attic.

The calls to 911 began at 00:12:55 a.m. (12 minutes after midnight) and a Keizer Police Patrol unit arrived 4 minutes later and reported the house fully involved in fire.

Keizer Fire Units arrived in 6 minutes and immediately went to a second alarm which brought units from Salem Fire Department and Marion County Fire District #1 in Mutual Aid. Firefighters were able to stop the fire at the point of origin and stop the progression of fire through the attic to the rest of the home.

Keizer Fire Chief Jeff Cowan commended firefighters for their efforts also working under fire- as ammunition in the garage was consumed and some explosions were caused by the heat. Chief Cowan said the fire stop was excellent, when combined with the light weight home construction used on this home.

The family of eight (8) Dad, Mom, and six (6) children ranged in age from 7 to 18 years old. The homeowners could smell something and were attempting to find the origin when the fire was discovered and became immediately too intense to remain in the home.

Smoke Detectors in the home activated as the family decided to leave. 911 dispatchers received the call told the occupants to evacuate the home immediately. National Fire Safety slogans recommend "Don't Stay inside-Go Outside" in case of fire. Summoning help from the outside or from a neighbor's home is recommended.

The cause of the fire has not been immediately determined, but an area of origin has been identified. The exact cause will be determined in the light of day by Keizer Fire District investigators and it is not suspicious in nature.

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.