2 house fires keep Salem firefighters busy
SALEM -- City firefighters put out two house fires at the same time Sunday.
When firefighters arrived at the first call just before 3 p.m., a house at 1527 Southeast Blvd. was fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters said the blaze started in a back bedroom and raced throughout the house.
A mother and four children had left the house 10 minutes before the fire was reported. Damage was set at $100,000.
The second call came at 3:20 p.m. while firefighters were still working to extinguish the first blaze. A fire had started in a wall next to a chimney and extended to the roof.
Residents of the second house, at 575 Highland Ave., reported they had used the fireplace the night before. Damage was set at $25,000.