SALEM–Firefighters are on the scene of another large fire in Salem, this time at the former Yohe Laundry building at McMackin and Maple streets, near the Salem Fire Department. Firefighters from Salem, Kell, Odin, Iuka and the City of Centralia are fighting the blaze, which has reportedly spread to the Pregnancy Care Center next door. First responders have closed streets from Main to Mitchell. Eastbound motorists are being detoured on Mitchell to East Main. South College is closed from Main to Mitchell, and all the downtown streets near the fire scene are also closed. Westbound motorists will face a bigger challenge, as Whittaker Street was already closed due to cleanup from the Wednesday night fire at the old Brown Shoe Factory building. Due to the nature of both Wednesday’s fire and this morning’s fire, local law enforcement believe the two fires were intentionally set, and they are investigating to bring those responsible to justice. A Marion County Sheriff’s deputy first discovered this morning’s blaze at around 4:30, reporting the building was already fully engulfed at that time.

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