Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The nine occupants of a two-family home on Jewett Street were able to escape a fire early this morning because they were alerted by a smoke detector, according to the Providence Fire Department.

"They were very fortunate. The smoke detector alerted them. The smoke detector saved their lives," Battalion Chief Thomas Brearley said.

When firefighters got to the three-story building at 234-236 Jewett St. shortly after 5 a.m., all nine occupants were already outside.

The fire was apparently started by a candle in the basement that ignited combustibles. One of the occupants of the house had been using a candle and thought he had extinguished it before leaving the basement, Brearley said.

The fire caused extensive damage to the basement, Brearley said.

The house was uninhabitable because of the fire's proximity to electrical outlets and the gas meter, Brearley said. The power was shut off after the fire, he said.

The Red Cross was on hand to offer help but members of the two families who lived in the building made other lodging arrangements, Brearley said.

A cat also escaped injury, he said.

 Tags  fire Providence RI

Comments

Dan said:

See, working smoke detectors DO SAVE LIVES! Should be an incentive to everybody to make sure that theirs are working.

Link | June 18, 2009 3:35 PM
Report Abuse

---

bummer man said:

Did the mayor thank the fire department for showing and putting out this fire and see the hard work they actualy do did the citizens thank them for helping them in such a tough time

bummer man

Link | June 18, 2009 5:02 PM
Report Abuse

---

Leave a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email:

URL:  

Remember personal info?

Captcha:

Type the characters you see in the picture above.