Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Smoky fire damaged a three-family house on Laban Street this afternoon in the Hartford area of Providence.

The Providence Journal / Mary Murphy

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Three families were displaced when a fire broke out this afternoon in an apartment building at 111 Laban St., at the intersection with Webster Avenue.

The fire is believed to have been caused by a boiler that malfunctioned, Battalion Chief Timothy McDaniel said. The investigation is continuing.

McDaniel said the fire started in the basement and moved up the walls to the attic, where it burned through the roof. Firefighters extinguished the blaze within half an hour, but were working on hot spots.

Steven González, 23, who lives on the first-floor apartment with his brother, said he called 911 after he saw smoke. No one else was in the building at the time.

One firefighter, whose name was not released, was taken to Rhode Island Hospital with a shoulder injury.

The Red Cross is arranging accommodations for approximately 12 tenants.

-- Reported by Donita Naylor

Original story at 3:12 p.m.

 Tags  fire Providence

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