Two-Alarm Commercial Fire at Salem's Willamette University

Nobody was hurt in the campus fire.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - 25 people were evacuated from the University Apartments on the Willamette University Campus after a fire broke out on the 7th floor of the apartment building. Firefighters say no one was injured and property damage was kept to a minimum.

Salem Fire Department Spokesman Bill Holmstrom says that atound 10:41 this morning, the first alarm assignment sent 3 fire engines, a ladder truck, medic unit and battalion chief to the commercial fire at 425 Winter Street SE, on the grounds of Willamette University.

"When firefighters entered the structure, they had thick black smoke on the top floor of this seven story apartment complex."

Holmstrom says a second alarm was called at 10:53 AM, bringing more apparatus and firefighters to the scene.

"Evacuation of the building was in progress when firefighters arrived. Firefighters searched the building to assure everyone had been evacuated." He says crews discovered the fire in a mechanical room on the 7th floor and were able to contain the fire to this room.

The fire was under control at 11:11 AM.

The cause of the fire was a box type fan mechanism overheating and igniting available combustibles. The loss is estimated at $5,000, $4,000 Structural damage and $1,000 damage to the building's Contents.