On Wednesday, Oct. 2, at 11:58 p.m., Keizer Fire District (KFD) responded to a fire at Courtside Manor Apartments on Wheatland Road.
Keizer Police Department arrived prior to KFD and began evacuating apartments.
Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and flame coming from the rear of the apartment near Wheatland Rd. The fire started at the exterior of the apartment complex and spread into one apartment and the common attic space.
Marion County Fire District and Salem Fire also assisted with fire suppression. Keizer Public Works helped by closing Wheatland Road for approximately two hours while the fire crews were at work. 19 firefighters responded to the scene on four engines, one medic unit, one squad, one battalion Chief and one fire investigator.
Four apartments were affected by the fire. In all, seven adults, six children, three dogs, one cat and one saltwater aquarium were displaced by the fire.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Just two days later, Keizer Firefighters were dispatched to a working shop fire at 7 p.m. Firefighters arrived to a building of the 1200 block of Candlewood Drive to find fire and heavy smoke at the rear of the building. Deputy Fire Marshal Ann-Marie Storms also said that there were explosions coming from the inside of the building — which isn’t unusual according to Storms.
Three engines, one ladder, a medic unit and a battalion chief responded with 16 firefighters.
Crews were on scene for two and a half hours working on cooling hot spots. The fire is currently under investigated.