The Salem Fire & EMS Department responded to a structure fire at Mount Regis Center Friday night at approximately 10:57 p.m. All residents and staff who were in the building at the time of the fire were able to escape without injury. The entire building did sustain heavy fire damage throughout the second and third floors and the majority of the building suffered water damage.
The first unit arrived within five minutes of receiving the call and found heavy smoke coming from the front of the building. Responding personnel found a large amount of fire on the second floor and in the attic. Firefighters made an initial interior attack, but due to heavy fire conditions had to back out and attack the fire from the exterior. It took firefighters a little over two hours to contain the blaze and several more hours to completely extinguish the fire.
Approximately 41 personnel from the Salem Fire & EMS Department (Engine 1, Engine 2, Engine 3, Truck 1, Medic 802 & Medic 803), the Roanoke Fire & EMS Department (Engine 4, Engine 5, Engine 13, & Ladder 5), the Roanoke County Fire & Rescue Department (Tanker 3, Air 9, Tanker 9 & Tower 9) and the Salem Rescue Squad (Rescue 154) responded to the call. Roanoke County Fire & Rescue Department (Wagon 10) assisted with handling additional City of Salem emergency calls.
The Salem Fire and EMS Department’s Fire Marshal has determined that the fire was caused by improperly discarded smoking materials. The damage from the fire is estimated to be approximately $600,000.
– Submitted article