Flames explode from the roof of the multi-family dwelling at 112 Earle St. in Woonsocket Tuesday evening.

 By SANDY McGEE

Several families are now homeless after a massive fire broke out Tuesday evening at a multi-family dwelling on Earle Street.

Firefighters first responded to the blaze engulfing the multi-family house at 112 Earle St. shortly after 5 p.m.
None of the residents or firefighters were injured in the blaze. “Everyone got out safe,” said a police officer at the scene.
Residents of the tenement said five families, including several small children, lived in the building. Only four individuals were at home at the time of the fire, said Capt. Thomas Papa of the Woonsocket Fire Department.
“The fire is contained in the building at this time and we stopped it from spreading to the other buildings,” Papa said.
Fire investigators do not yet know how the fire started, but flames were seen on the left side of the building when firefighters and rescue units arrived, Papa said.
The investigation is ongoing and under the direction of the state fire marshal and Woonsocket Fire and Police departments.
Police closed off several sections of nearby streets, including parts of East School and North Main streets, as firefighters battled the blaze that could be seen from Social Street.
See FIRE, Page A-6
A large crowd of spectators stood behind police tape outside in the cold and constant drizzle of rain and hoses to watch the dwelling as it was consumed.
“The flames were coming straight up,” said Jeanne Deblois of Woonsocket. “We saw a lot of flames and smoke,” said Rita Chartier of Woonsocket.
Bill Marrah, a retired Woonsocket High school teacher, said he first spotted the flames from Social Street after dropping off a Milk Fund donation at the WOON radio station. He walked to the Earle Street scene, where he witnessed the fire up close.
“The roof was in flames,” Marrah said. “I saw fire coming out of the first floor window.”
Visible fire damage could be seen Tuesday evening outside the multi-family house. The blaze destroyed the entire third floor and attic apartment of the building, and caused severe damage to the second floor.
Families gathered outside with residents to offer support to their relatives, who broke into tears as pieces of the building's roof collapsed in flames to the ground.
Sierra Fernandes moved from the apartment just last week, but many of her possessions were still stored at her previous address.
“My car is gone,” Fernandes said. “My clothes are gone.”
Sierra's brother, Jared Fernandes, lived in the building on the first floor and was home at the time of the fire.
“He lost everything,” said Jared's aunt, Paula Cecconi of Woonsocket. “I told him his life is more important than any possession. It's just so sad. It's a sad thing to happen at Christmas time.”
Cecconi said she and Jared's father previously lived in the house many years ago.
“This was a house that has familiarity to us,” Cecconi said. “My dad lived here.”
One female resident reportedly ran from the house without clothes or shoes, because she was in the shower at the time the fire first broke, said the mother of one of the tenants. A bystander and good Samaritan reportedly gave the woman their own shoes.
Cheryl Amy Wilson, who lived on the third floor of the Earle Street house, lost several pets in the blaze.
“I was scared,” Wilson said when she first saw the fire. “I lost my fish. I had a tadpole, goldfish and a small-mouth bass I kept as a pet.”
Wilson said the pets, which also included a guinea pig she purchased from a pet shop just last week, perished in the fire.
Wilson, who lived in the house for more than three years, said she is thankful her dog was with her and not at home at the time. She also lost all her Christmas gifts she recently purchased.
Mod Ceesay and friend Kebba Mbai, both natives of West Africa, resided in the second floor apartment for more than three years.
“Only this I have left,” said Ceesay as he pointed toward his jacket and pants. “We lost a lot of things.”
“I lost all my things,” Mbai said.
The American Red Cross was on scene on Tuesday to assist the families now left homeless.