Salem Fire crews douse two-alarm blaze at adult store Friday morning

This story was updated at 4:20 p.m.

A two-alarm commercial fire Friday morning destroyed the south end of an adult shop on Silverton Road NE.

Multiple emergency vehicles responded to the 7:59 a.m. call as heavy smoke was seen coming from the Spice Adult Emporium, 3473 Silverton Road.

The blaze forced the closure of Silverton Road at Hawthorne Avenue in each direction, according to a traffic alert post by Salem Police Deportment, but was reopened by 9:50 a.m.

Salem Fire Department continued to monitor and mop up the site through the morning. An engine, ladder truck and medic remained on the scene as of 10 a.m., along with battalion chief and fire marshal vehicles. Salem Police also had an officer at the scene.

Johnnie Browe, graveyard manager at the shop, said there were no injuries and he didn't know how the fire started in the bright blue building next to Cheetahs Cabaret.

The fire appears to have originated in the south end of the building, which Browe described as storage and an arcade. He said he attempted to use a fire extinguisher to put out initial flames on cardboard in the storage area.

Witness Christina Stanley, who arrived at the shop just before the smoke was visible, said she saw Salem Police take a man who appeared to be acting suspiciously into custody at the scene.

Salem Police said a 40-year-old man was arrested on an outstanding warrant and faces a charge of first-degree arson.

Capi Lynn is a senior reporter for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to her at clynn@statesmanjournal.com , and follow her work on X @CapiLynn and Facebook @CapiLynnSJ.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem Fire crews douse two-alarm blaze at adult store Friday morning