Police investigating Salem Public Market fire as suspicious; market closed (Oct. 22)
Updated: 57 minutes ago
This story has been updated: Salem police say they are investigating the fire as suspicious, and the market is closed with no reopening date. Updated 8:55 p.m. PT Oct. 22.
Quick Read
Salem police confirmed Thursday night that they are investigating the Oct. 21 fire at the Salem Public Market as suspicious, KATU reported.
The market at 1240 Rural Ave. SE is closed for repairs, and a market spokesperson said there is no timeline for reopening, according to KATU.
Salem Fire said no one was inside, crews knocked the two-alarm fire down in about 20 minutes, and damage is estimated at $167,000.
The cause has not been determined. The market, founded in 1943, bills itself as Oregon's oldest farmers market.
SALEM, Ore. - Salem police are investigating a late-night fire that damaged the Salem Public Market, Oregon's oldest farmers market, as suspicious, KATU reported Thursday night. The market is closed for repairs while the investigation continues.
The two-alarm fire broke out late Wednesday, Oct. 21. Salem Fire Department crews were called at 10:28 p.m. to a commercial structure fire at 1240 Rural Ave. SE and arrived to find smoke and fire coming from the building's roof, Salem Fire spokesman Brian Carrara told the Statesman Journal. The call was upgraded to a second alarm to bring in more crews.
Firefighters found no one inside and knocked down the fire in about 20 minutes, Carrara said. Nine fire department vehicles responded, and crews stayed on scene to put out hot spots. No injuries were reported, according to KATU.
Investigation and damage
Salem police confirmed Thursday night that they are investigating the fire as suspicious, according to KATU. The cause has not yet been determined. Police have not released any other details about the investigation.
Carrara said the fire caused an estimated $167,000 in damage, and about $334,000 in property value was saved. Salem Fire released photos of the damage, published by the Statesman Journal.
Market closed, no reopening date
The Salem Public Market is closed for repairs, and a market spokesperson said there is currently no timeline for reopening, KATU reported. "Thanks to the quick work of Salem Fire crews, much of the building was saved," the spokesperson said in a statement to KATU.
"Our vendors and community mean the world to us, and we're working to get the market back up and running as soon as it's safe," the statement said. Market officials told KATU that shoppers should check the market's website and social media for updates on alternative market locations and a reopening date.
About the market
The market was established in 1943 and has operated at the Rural Avenue location since 1946, according to the Statesman Journal, which cited Marion County property records showing the building was built in 1951. It is normally open 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday, year-round, according to its website. Salem Reporter also covered the fire.
Willamette News will update this story if police, Salem Fire or the market share more.
Sources
KATU: Salem Public Market closed after 'suspicious' fire causes $167,000 in damage (Oct. 22, 2026)
Statesman Journal: Fire damages historic Salem Public Market (Oct. 22, 2026)
Statesman Journal: Photos show fire damage to Oregon's oldest farmers market (Oct. 22, 2026)
Salem Reporter: Two-alarm fire blazes through Oregon's oldest farmers market (Oct. 22, 2026)
Salem Public Market: Market hours and location
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