A fire discovered just before noon Thursday caused heavy damage to the Eric Williams home at 404 West Rogers Street.
Salem Fire Chief Jim Cerny reported no one was home at the Eric Williams home when the fire was discovered, although some had just left the home a short time earlier.
When firemen arrived fire was shooting out two of the windows on the front side of the home. The fire had extended into the attic and several holes had to be cut in the roof to be able to get enough water on the fire to put it out.
A State Deputy Fire Marshall was called to the scene to try and pinpoint the cause of the fire and where it started.
The entire living portion of the home sustained heavy fire, heat and smoke damage. The garage at the north end of the residence received only smoke damage.
Two dogs, a possum and a snake were all rescued from the garage without injury.
The fire call came in at 11:53 on Thursday morning. Firemen cleared the scene by 1:39 pm.
Salem Firemen received mutual aid assistance from Odin and Kell on the scene while the Centralia Fire Protection District covered the Salem Fire Station in the event of another fire.
Salem Firemen blast water into a burning area of the Eric WIlliams home at 404 West Rogers around noon on Thursday. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
