A fire destroyed a 20-by-60-foot garage and workshop building at the Melvin Minor home at 915 South Franklin Street in Salem late Wednesday afternoon.
Salem Assistant Fire Chief Bill Fulton says Minor had been welding at his workbench and it is believed a spark may have set off a fire that wasn’t visible at the time. Minor reportedly found the fire when returning outside later in the north end of the building. He initially attempted to put it out with a garden hose and caught his shirt on fire in the process. By the time firemen arrived, the fire had spread throughout the building and flames were shooting from the windows.
The fire was so hot the radiant heat melted the siding on the home of Marilyn Steevens on Commercial Street 12 to 15 feet away.
Minor was treated on the scene for burn injuries to his chest by United Medical Response but declined hospital treatment.
The fire call came in at 4:42 Wednesday afternoon with firemen on the scene until around six Wednesday evening. Odin Firemen provided mutual aid on the scene while Kell Firemen stood by at the Salem Fire Station in the event of another fire.
Flames shoot from a garage-workshop building on Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Jonathan Tolley.
