Burrillville Firefighters Battle Fire in Multi-Family Home
Burrillville, RI - At approximately 3:15 p.m. on Sunday, September 10th, 2023 the Pascoag Fire Department was dispatched to 172 Laurel Ridge Ave for a reported structure fire.
Within five minutes of dispatch, the first truck arrived on the scene and found heavy smoke and fire on the second story of a multi-family residential structure. A Code Red, or working fire, was declared alerting incoming units that they would be facing fire on their arrival.
Minutes later a full first alarm assignment was requested bringing in additional responders from surrounding towns. The incident escalated to a second alarm bringing in firefighters from Connecticut and Massachusetts towns.
As Pascoag Firefighters advanced a line in the front door and got water on the fire, the interior situation rapidly improved causing the second alarm companies to not be immediately needed. The incident commander opted to continue the companies but had them stage prior to the scene. These units did end up being brought into the scene to assist with overhaul
While the area is hydranted, nearly 1/4 mile of Large Diameter Hose (LDH) needed to be dropped in the roadway leading into the scene to connect the engine and tanker trucks to the hydrant system.
The bulk of the fire was knocked down approximately 15 minutes after the time of dispatch.
A total of three rescues, or ambulances, were requested to the incident to evaluate injured firefighters. All of the firefighters were treated for minor injuries and released on the scene. No residents reported any injuries as a result of the fire.
According to Chief Michael Dexter, Pascoag Fire Department, the fire appears to have started in a second-floor bedroom. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Burrillville and Rhode Island State Fire Marshall.
Both sides of the multi-family structure sustained significant smoke and water damage during the fire and will be uninhabitable until extensive cleanup can occur.
Agencies that responded, or were dispatched, included: the Pascoag Fire Department, Harrisville Fire Department, Oakland Mapleville Fire Department, West Glocester Fire Department, Harmony Fire Department, Douglas Fire Department, Uxbridge Fire Department, Smithfield Fire Department, East Putnam Fire Department, East Thompson Volunteer Fire Department, Millville Fire Rescue, Special Signal Fire Association Providence Canteen, and the Burrillville Police Department.
