Elderly man suffers burns in house fire

SALEM — Firefighters said an elderly Southeast Boulevard man narrowly escaped from a fire that did extensive damage to his home.

Raymond Metzgar, 80, of 1589 Southeast Blvd., was napping when he was awakened around 12:25 p.m. Tuesday by a smoke alarm, said Fire Capt. Scott Mason.

Metzgar suffered burns on both arms as he fled his single-story house. He was treated at Salem Community Hospital, Mason said.

Metzgar first tried to flee through the rear of his home but found the attached garage at the back of the house fully engulfed in fire. He turned and made his way back through the house and out the front door, getting burned in the process, Mason said.

The garage and kitchen area were destroyed, and the dining room and foyer suffered extensive damage. The rest of the house had heavy smoke damage, Mason said.

The heat from the fire also melted vinyl siding and damaged two windows on the west side of a neighboring house.

The blaze was spotted by a passerby who called 911. The cause of the fire wasn’t immediately determined, Mason said.