***UPDATE***
On February 17, 2020 Marion County Fire District #1 (MCFD1) responded to a two alarm apartment fire located at 2500 Lancaster Drive NE. First arriving units rescued one occupant who was transported to Salem Hospital. Sadly, the occupant who was rescued died at the hospital on Thursday February 20, 2020. Damage to the apartment building and contents is estimated at $400,000. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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***ORIGINAL RELEASE 2/17/2020***
Today (2/17/2020) at 4:35 PM Marion County Fire District#1 (MCFD1) was dispatched to report of an apartment fire at 2500 Lancaster Drive NE in Salem. Initial crews arrived and reported heavy smoke and fire in a two story apartment building with four units. Fire was extending to two floors and into the attic. A second alarm was called to bring additional resources to assist. Crews made an aggressive attack on the fire while beginning to search each apartment for occupants. One occupant located in a ground floor apartment was rescued by firefighters. The occupant was unconscious and was transported to Salem Hospital and remains there in critical condition. The name of the occupant will not be released at this time. The remainder of the apartments had been evacuated prior to arrival of the fire department and no other occupants were located by crews assigned to search. MCFD1 responded to the fire with three engines, one rescue unit, 2 medic units, one Fire Marshal and a Battalion Chief. The second alarm brought equipment from our neighboring departments including Salem Fire with one Engine, one Ladder and a Battalion Chief, Keizer Fire District with one engine, Woodburn Fire District with one engine and a Falck Ambulance . Aumsville Fire District and Silverton Fire District assisted with coverage for our stations during the fire. The fire severely damaged the apartment building and nine occupants of the four apartments were displaced. Red Cross is on scene assisting. Fire Investigators were on scene this afternoon and evening and will return to do follow up investigation tomorrow. The fire remains under investigation and there is no cause determined at this time. Other than the one occupant who was rescued there were no additional injuries to the public or to Firefighters.