OSP: Salem house, barn fire apparent arson
A pair of fires early Sunday morning that burned a northeast Salem home’s bedroom and destroyed a barn on the same property have been ruled to be arson, Oregon State Police said.
OSP detectives and emergency personnel responded around 3 a.m. to the reported house fire in the 3500 block of Ward Drive Northeast, OSP Lt. Cari Boyd said.
They soon learned there were actually two separate fires, at the residence and the barn at the location. The house fire was contained to one bedroom, but the barn was fully engulfed and was a complete loss. There were no reported injuries, Boyd said.
The investigation determined the fires were suspicious and deemed it an arson investigation. The home has been known to be occupied by transients, Boyd said, but it is unknown who was the last to occupy both locations.
Oregon State Police requested the public’s help in the case. Anyone who has known people to frequent this location was asked to call OSP at (800) 452-7888 and refer to case number SP18-135992. Detective Scott Yunker is the lead detective on the case.
Oregon State Police were assisted by the Oregon State Fire Marshall Office, Keizer Fire Department, Marion County Fire District 1 and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
