Fire Investigation Results in Arrests and Children Taken Into Protective Custody

Fire officials say the damage was surprisingly minor with a damage estimate of about $500.

Amy Toran and Gerry Toran

(SALEM) - A fire at an apartment in Salem Monday led to an investigation and the arrests of two local residents.

A Fire Marshal from Marion County Fire District #1 called Sheriff's Office arson investigators to the scene at 4150 Campus Loop NE where the fire occurred in a multi-unit apartment building.

23-year old Amy Toran lived in the apartment with her two toddler children.

Kevin Rau with the Marion County Shriff's Office says the initial investigation was to determine the cause of the unexplained fire. "It became apparent to those investigators that the fire may have been intentionally started."

He says the investigators went to the home to conduct the fire investigation on Monday and found 47-year old Gerry Toran hiding in a cabinet, "and later determined that he had a no contact order barring him from the home as part of a jail release agreement from a previous domestic violence arrest."

The fire on Saturday involved a pile of clothes that were on fire in a closet. During the course of the investigation it was discovered that another fire had apparently occurred at the family’s apartment which involved one of the adults putting a plastic tray from a child’s high chair in the oven.

Investigators say the two believed that by burning the building down they would be relieved from their lease obligations. At some point Amy Toran went to the closet where the clothes were burning, picked them up and took them to her bathroom to put the fire out.

Fire officials say the damage was surprisingly minor with a damage estimate of about $500.

Rau says both were arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail where they are currently lodged on charges including multiple counts of 1st Degree Arson, Reckless Endangering, 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief, Child Neglect and Reckless Burning.

The couple’s two children were placed in the custody of the Department of Human Services – Child Welfare.