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January 14, 2013

Salem fire displaces family of 3

By Jonathan Phelps Staff writer

SALEM — Firefighters quickly extinguished an apartment blaze that spread to the home’s attic early yesterday morning.

A family of three was displaced as a result of the blaze and is being helped by the American Red Cross. No one was injured, according to the police log.

The Fire Department responded to the three-family home at 187 Lafayette St. on a report of an electric fire at 4:32 a.m., according to the log.

“The initial crews responded with an aggressive attack to the third floor,” said John Roth, a public information officer for the department.

A family of three that lived in the third-floor unit were home when the fire sparked, but got out after hearing the fire alarm, Roth said. The Red Cross reports that this was the only family living in the building.

Roth said there was significant fire, water and smoke damage, which made the unit uninhabitable. Firefighters were also forced to tear into the walls and ceiling to extinguish the blaze, he said.

While initial reports indicated that the fire was sparked because of electrical issues, the cause remains under investigation, Roth said.

The Red Cross is providing the family with temporary housing at a hotel and emergency funds for food, blankets, clothing and other essentials.

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