Fire at Salem Ridge Apartments

A serious kitchen fire forces evacuations at Salem Ridge Apartments in Salem.

Salem Fire and EMS says firefighters found heavy smoke coming from a third floor apartment and the roof of one building, when they arrived on scene around 12:40 p.m. Friday.

The people living in the building evacuated.

Firefighters needed ten minutes to get the flames under control.

The Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire was accidental, caused by unattended cooking on a stove.

Firefighters say the apartment’s kitchen suffered heavy fire and smoke damage.  The rest of the apartment also suffered smoke damage.  A damage estimate is being tallied.