A grass fire burning near the 4100 block of Vitae Springs Road South near Salem on Monday, Sept. 13. (Courtesy/Marion Polk Crime, Traffic and Severe Weather Alerts)
Update, 5:30 p.m.: Firefighters contained the fire around 4 p.m. Monday. Evacuations and road closure orders remain in effect. An updated version of this story is here.
A grass fire south of Salem has prompted evacuations along Vitae Springs Road South as fire crews battle flames that spread from a vehicle fire southwest of Salem.
People in the 4000 – 4300 block of Vitae Springs Road should leave their homes immediately, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said at 3 p.m.
Emergency services may not be able to assist those who do not heed the evacuation warning, the Sheriff’s Office said.
About 25 emergency vehicles have responded to the fire, which was reported at 12:45 p.m., said Greg Walsh, city of Salem emergency manager. He said the state Fire Marshal’s Office has authorized aerial water drops to get the flames under control.
Walsh said the fire was still burning as of 3:15 p.m. and firefighters did not have an estimate of the acreage involved.
Orville Road South east of River Road South, Vitae Springs Road South are closed, Walsh said, as is a portion of Skyline Road South near the fire.
Firefighters from Marion and Polk county agencies have responded, Walsh said.
(Reader submitted video)
An aerial view of a grass fire burning near the 4100 block of Vitae Springs Road South near Salem on Monday, Sept. 13. (Courtesy/Reader photo)
An aerial view of a grass fire burning near the 4100 block of Vitae Springs Road South near Salem on Monday, Sept. 13. (Courtesy/Reader photo)
An aerial view of a grass fire burning near the 4100 block of Vitae Springs Road South near Salem on Monday, Sept. 13. (Courtesy/Reader photo)
This story is developing and will be updated.
