Crews battle fire at Salem adult store Friday morning

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

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

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

The fire forced the closure of Silverton Road at Hawthorne Avenue in each direction, according to a traffic alert message from Salem police, but was reopened at 9:50 a.m.

Salem firefighters continued to monitor and clean the site throughout the morning. An engine, ladder truck and medic were still on scene as of 10 a.m., along with the battalion chief's and fire department's vehicles. Salem police also had an officer on scene.

Johnnie Browe, the store's cemetery manager, said there were no injuries and he did not know how the fire started in the bright blue building next to Cheetahs Cabaret.

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

Witness Christina Stanley, who arrived at the store just before smoke was visible, said she saw Salem police arrest a man at the scene who appeared to be behaving suspiciously.

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 at the Statesman Journal. Send her comments, questions and tips to [email protected] and follow her work on X @CapiLynn and Facebook @CapiLynnSJ.