The Salem Fire & EMS Department responded to a commercial structure fire this morning at Mac and Bob’s Restaurant at 9:28 a.m. Employees who were inside the building, which is located at 316 E. Main Street, smelled smoke and soon discovered a fire in the roof area near the front entrance. A worker called 911 and all employees were able to safely evacuate the establishment without injury. The restaurant was closed to the public when the fire broke out.
The first units arrived within three minutes of receiving the call and found moderate smoke throughout the building and along the roofline. It took firefighters more than an hour to bring the fire under control and the building did sustain damage. Heavy rain at the time of the fire also made fire operations more difficult.
Approximately 22 personnel from the Salem Fire & EMS Department (Truck 1, Engine 2, Engine 3, Medic 801, Medic 802, Medic 804, Battalion 1 & Fire Medic 1, Fire 2, Fire Marshal 1, and Fire Marshal 2) responded to the call.
The Salem Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire to be accidental in nature, caused by an electrical malfunction above the drop ceiling just inside the front entrance. The preliminary damage estimate is approximately $10,000.