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By SANDY McGEE WOONSOCKET — The Office of the State Fire Marshal began its investigation Wednesday morning into the massive fire on Earle Street that left five families homeless Tuesday evening.
Firefighters first responded to the blaze engulfing the multi-family apartment building, located at 112 Earle St., on Tuesday around 5 p.m. Firefighters were able to control the flames from spreading to two neighboring residential buildings within an hour. The fire destroyed the entire third floor of the triple-decker building and caused severe physical damage to the second and first floors, leaving a charred skeleton of a house for investigators to search through. Residents of 112 Earle St. said five families, including several small children, lived in the building. Only four individuals were at home at the time of the fire. No one was injured in the blaze, according to firefighters. Investigators from the State Fire Marshal Office, the Woonsocket fire marshal and members of the Woonsocket Fire and Police departments were on scene all day on Wednesday to search through the debris. The fire’s cause and origin are still unknown at this time, said a spokesperson from the State Fire Marshal’s Office on Wednesday. Investigators at Tuesday’s blaze did not know the location of the fire’s starting point, but flames were seen on the left side of the building when firefighters and rescue units arrived, said Capt. Thomas Papa of the Woonsocket Fire Department on Tuesday night. The Providence chapter of the American Red Cross was on scene Tuesday evening to assist the five families now left homeless. Marisa Albanese, director of community relations for the local American Red Cross chapter, said 12 adults and two children received clothing, food and shelter on Tuesday and Wednesday. The families with children may receive additional shelter, according to Albanese. “We do have additional funding to provide shelter to families with children if needed,” Albanese said. “Our priority on Tuesday was to make sure everyone was settled for the night.” Cheryl Amy Wilson, who lived at the Earle Street house for more than three years, lost many possession in the fire, including several recently purchased Christmas gifts for her daughter. Jennifer LaBrie of Warwick, formerly of Woonsocket, phoned The Call on Wednesday in an effort to contact Wilson and replace some of the lost gifts through a donation. “I just felt terrible about her daughter,” LaBrie said. “I just want her daughter to have something nice for Christmas.” It is unknown at this time if LaBrie succeeded in contacting Wilson. Al Brien, the city’s human services director and chairman of the Woonsocket Housing Authority, said his city department is providing the five families with assistance in finding living arrangements. “We are helping them secure suitable, alternate living arrangements,” Brien said. “We will provide the direction to where they should be seeking for living arrangements and assist them with that. “Some (of the families) will be staying with relatives or friends. Others will be seeking living arrangements in the private sector.” Brien said the city is not planning to provide any monetary assistance to the victims, but the city will help with applications for temporary housing or heating assistance if the families meet qualifications. “We’re doing everything we possible can to give them support,” Brien said. “We will do everything we can to expedite the processing of their applications.” Brien thanked the local chapter of the American Red Cross for their immediate assistance on Tuesday night. “The American Red Cross did an absolute magnificent job,” Brien said. “They just stepped up to the plate and delivered.” |
