SALEM – Salem Fire battled a basement blaze at 213 Jefferson Ave. around 4 p.m. Friday.According to Deputy Chief Glen Beaudet, the fire broke out in a small three-foot wide crawlspace in the boiler room.”We got a call that black smoke was coming out of the house and we were told that a boiler man had been at the home two hours prior, burning off oil in the burner,” he said.Beaudet said chainsaws were used to cut about three or four holes in the floor to ventilate the area.Around 45 minutes later, Beaudet said the fire was extinguished.”The smoke was so thick, you couldn’t see anything in there because oil fires are extra smoky,” he said. “It wasn’t a huge fire, it was just in a tight area.”At the time of the blaze, Beaudet said five people were in the multi-family home, including a dog and three cats.”It took a little while to find the animals because they were hiding under couches, but all five people got out and everyone is OK,” he said. “The electricity was turned off, so they are all staying at a hotel for the time being.”Fire damages are estimated at $30,000.