The Salem Fire & EMS Department responded to a fire at Brookdale Assisted Living located at 2001 Ridgewood Dr. this morning, at approximately 10:27 a.m. The fire was contained to a dryer inside a laundry room, but 23 residents were evacuated while fire crews extinguished the fire and removed the smoke.
The first units arrived within five minutes of receiving the call and found heavy smoke in the basement. Crews were able to locate a dryer that was on fire in the basement of the building. The fire had been contained by the building’s sprinklers, but the crew had to complete extinguishment utilizing a hand-line. It took crews almost 2 hours to remove the smoke from the building and assist residents back into their rooms.
Approximately 15 personnel from the Salem Fire & EMS Department (Engine 1, Engine 2, Engine 3, Tower 1 & Medic 802) responded to the call.
The fire remains under investigation by the Salem Fire & EMS Fire Marshal’s Office, and there is no damage estimate at this time.