71-Year-Old Woman Found Dead in Salem Home Fire
When I first read about the fire on Oak Park Drive, I couldn’t help picturing what those final minutes must have felt like. A quiet street, a modest home, and then, just after noon on October 29, smoke rising into the sky. By 12:34 p.m., emergency calls were pouring in from neighbors. Within minutes, fire crews reached the 4900 block near Silverton Road and Cordon Road — but the house was already swallowed by flames.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office later confirmed what no one wanted to hear: a 71-year-old woman, Lesa Lemons, was found dead inside. Firefighters tried to battle back the blaze, but by the time they gained entry, the structure was completely engulfed. Crews stayed well into the evening, still hosing down hotspots as investigators marked the scene.
I keep thinking about how fast it all happened — minutes between life and tragedy. The sheriff’s office says the cause is still under investigation, though early signs suggest it isn’t suspicious. That phrase — “not suspicious” — might sound procedural, but it also means there’s likely no crime here, just a devastating accident…