Salem fire under investigation | News, sports, jobs

While fighting a fire Thursday at an East Sixth Street apartment, an inspector’s turnout coat began to smolder, forcing him to get out to have it extinguished and suffering minor burns that did not require treatment. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

SALEM – A fire at an East Sixth Street apartment Thursday remains under investigation.

The cause of a fire at a residence in the 600 block of East Sixth Street on Thursday remains undetermined. According to Salem Fire Chief Scott Mason, the matter is being investigated by the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Salem Fire Department with assistance from the Salem Police Department.

First report to the department on Thursday at 5:35 p.m

Firefighters responded to the residence at 5:39 p.m., within four minutes of the operation, and found heavy smoke and fire coming from a window of the rear apartment on the D side. Mason said all residents were evacuated prior to their arrival and that all residents were able to exit the building without injury when the fire broke out when they were alerted by smoke detectors.

Firefighters entered the building via the main interior stairwell, where there was heavy smoke up to a height of about 90 cm above the ground, but there was no visible fire at the apartment door. A roof ladder was used to reach the balcony of the burning apartment and the sliding glass door was broken using a Denver tool to allow personnel access to the apartment.

The hose line had developed kinks while climbing the ladder, and due to low pressure, an inspector had to get out when the casing of the jacket began to smolder. After the coat was extinguished and the kinks removed to restore pressure, firefighters re-entered the apartment and a search of the apartment found no one inside. The fire was knocked down at 5:49 p.m. and cleanup began as support arrived at the scene. During the overhaul, a firefighter injured his knee and was assessed at the scene by EMS and taken to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Boardman.

Ohio Edison and Columbia Gas were contacted to shut down utilities, and the Salvation Army and Red Cross were contacted to help affected residents of the uninvolved apartments find shelter for the evening. An investigator with the State Fire Marshal’s Office was contacted and responded to begin their investigation with assistance from a Salem police officer. Two members of the fire department stood by at the scene throughout the night to maintain surveillance of the scene.

Mason said that although the inspector suffered minor burns, he refused medical treatment and that the department received mutual aid from the Perry Township, Green Township and Damascus volunteer fire departments. Mason also said that while the department was able to contain the fire to the unit of origin, there was heavy smoke in all of the upper units and there was at least light smoke in the units below. He also said all units on the north side of the building suffered severe water damage, noting that about 2,000 gallons of water were needed to fight the fire.