Salem man arrested after Public Market fire

Salem police arrested Forest Michael Trenary, 33, of Salem, in connection with an Oct. 21 fire that damaged Salem Public Market. Police said he faces charges of reckless burning and first-degree criminal mischief. The charges are allegations, not findings of guilt, and police described the investigation as ongoing.

Salem Fire Department crews responded to the market at 1240 Rural Street SE on the evening of Oct. 21, 2026. Police said firefighters found the structure fully engulfed. Investigators reviewed video provided by a community member showing a person starting a fire near the building and determined the fire likely ignited the structure, police said.

Damage estimates and property saved i

Police initially estimated the damage at more than $100,000. Salem Reporter separately reported that the Salem Fire Department estimated $167,000 in damage and about $334,000 in property value saved. The reported value saved is roughly twice the damage estimate, but it is not a measure of repair or rebuilding costs.

These are estimates attributed to different sources, not interchangeable figures: police gave an initial estimate above $100,000, while the $167,000 figure was attributed to the fire department. Market board president Trisha Henny told KPTV the market was underinsured and that its future depended partly on whether the remaining structure could be salvaged.

The market remains closed i

KPTV reported that the market had 35 vendors and was closed after the fire. Vendor Colleen Owen told the station she lost merchandise and estimated her own losses at more than $10,000. That is Owen’s estimate for her losses, not a total for all vendors.

Henny told KPTV she expected an assessment within about a week of whether the remaining structure could be salvaged. The assessment would address whether the building could be saved; it was not a decision to reopen the market.