SALEM — A bird's nest built in a bad place ignited a fire last night that caused extensive damage to an Elmwood Avenue home.
Flames tore through the attic, spreading to the roof and the second floor of the single-family residence at 18 Elmwood Ave., according to fire Capt. Jon Brackett. About half the second floor was damaged, and the home will need substantial repairs before it can be lived in again, he said.
"It looks like a bird's nest on an exterior light caused the fire and burned through the attic," Brackett said.
The Fire Department received a 911 call from a resident of the home at 7:44 p.m. The woman and her pets fled the house, Brackett said. No one was injured as a team of 15 Salem firefighters extinguished the single-alarm blaze in about 20 minutes, fire Capt. Stephan Cattin said.
A Methuen engine responded to the fire, and firefighters from Windham and Derry were called in to cover Salem's station, Brackett said. The road was closed, and Salem firefighters remained at the home for two hours after the fire broke out, he said. The woman and her husband, who was not home at the time, are staying with relatives, Brackett said.
Town assessment records show the property, appraised at $329,800, is owned by Jeffrey and Margaret Heichman.
