The Salem Fire & EMS Department responded to a structure fire at 1910 Apperson Dr. Monday night at approximately 10:18 p.m. This is the location of Apperson Self Storage and the fire destroyed one of the facility’s buildings, affecting 64 different storage units. There were no injuries due of the fire, but one firefighter was transported to the hospital for a medical issue. That individual was treated and released this morning.
The first unit arrived within three minutes of receiving the call and found heavy fire coming from several units at the complex. The fire spread quickly throughout the building, forcing crews to protect two nearby structures from the flames. Firefighters from Roanoke Fire & EMS, Roanoke County Fire & Rescue and Salem Fire & EMS worked together throughout the night and morning to bring the fire under control. The fire heavily damaged more than 60 units and their contents, including several cars and motorcycles.
Approximately 50 personnel from the Salem Fire & EMS Department (Engine 1, Engine 2, Engine 3, Medic 801, Medic 802, Medic 803, Battalion 1 & Fire Medic 1), Roanoke Fire & EMS Department (Engine 4, Engine 5, Engine 13, Ladder 5, Medic 5 & Battalion 2), Roanoke County Fire & Rescue Department (Wagon 3, Tanker 9 & Air 9), and the Salem Rescue Squad (Rescue 154) responded to the call.
The Salem Fire Marshal’s Office continues to investigate the fire and neither a cause nor a damage estimate is available at this time.