Tense Moments During Mid-Morning Pawtucket Fire

Around 11:30 on Friday morning Pawtucket fire alarm dispatched Engine's 1,2,3 Ladder 1 & Battalion 2 to 111 Randall Street for a reported structure fire. Due to numerous calls the fill in companies were dispatched with Engine 3, Ladder 2 & Rescue 1 responding, Car 1 (Chief Sisson) & Car 4 (Safety Officer Woodside) also took in the possible job. Lieutenant Slater the officer in charge of engine one arrived and reported a "Code Red" with heavy smoke showing from the top floor of a three story occupied multiple dwelling at the corner of Mulberry Street. As firefighters made entry and stretched a line one firefighter was overcome by smoke and removed from the building while engine three arrived and stretched a backup line via side three. Battalion two established command and special called Engine 4 & Rescue 2 while ladder one arrived and setup on side four (Mulberry Street) and ascended the ladder to the roof. Heavy black smoke vented from the side three windows and eves as the crew of ladder one finished the roof vent and the incident commander ordered them to evacuate the roof. In the process of vacating the roof one firefighter broke thru the roof and slid down the incline stopping inches from the edge, the second firefighter attempted to make the rescue and also broke thru up to the waist. The interior fire companies were evacuated as heavy fire began to vent thru the roof in numerous locations and windows on side four. The two firefighters now trapped on the roof were able to safely make it to Ladder Two who had setup on side one across from Payne Park and were evaluated by rescue personnel once on the ground. A mutual aid box was transmitted thru Metro Control for station coverage and mutual aid crews were dispatched into the city to assist from surrounding municipalities. Heavy fire conditions in the building were brought under control with a exterior attack in about a half hour and crews reentered to chase smaller pockets of fire and overhaul. The cause of the incident is under investigation by fire prevention and the state fire marshals office. The three firefighters injured were transported to Memorial Hospital for further evaluation.

Late Night Second Alarm On The East Side

Shortly before 11:00 on Thursday night Providence Fire Alarm dispatched Engine's 7,2,9 Ladder's 4&7, Special Hazards, Rescue 5 & Battalion 3 to 262 Brown Street for multiple calls reporting a house fire. Engine Two arrived within minutes and reported a "Code Red" with fire showing from the side one exterior porch of a occupied 2.5 story wood frame and stretched a line while Ladder Four arrived and rescued a occupant trapped on the roof on side two. Engine 4, Ladder 8, Engine 5 with Air Supply & Division 1 responded on the working fire assignment. Fire extended up the side one/four wall due to balloon frame construction and took hold of the third floor and a special call was made for an additional one and one (Engine 14, Tower Ladder 1 & Rescue 3). Command advised Hidden Street as side one as the third floor lit up and the evacuation order was given. Heavy fire vented thru the roof and dormers as ladder pipes were setup from Ladder Seven, Ladder Four & Tower One. The incident command requested an additional two engine's & and a additional ladder to the scene as division one transmitted the second alarm, Engine 12, Engine 8 & Ladder 3 responded. A exterior operation made quick work of the fire having it under control in about an hour of the dispatch. The cause is under investigation however talk on scene suggest a possible arson. Several minor injuries were reported, the providence canteen responded to provide rehab on what was a very cold New England night. Providence Public Works also responded with Sanders as water runoff flowed down the hill towards Onley Street and froze.

Worcester Firefighter Killed In Three Alarm Fire

 Shortly after 04:15 on the morning of Thursday December 8th Worcester EMS reported a building fire behind the old Providence Street Station adjacent to the previous fire building on Arlington Street. The Worcester Fire Alarm Office transmitted Box 12-07 Arlington Street at Dorchester Street for the vicinity of 44 Arlington Street, Engine's 12,6,13,2 Ladder's 1 & 3, Car 4, Rescue 1 & Ladder 7 (RIT) responded. Car 4 reported fire showing from Madison Street and confirmed the working fire, moments later engine twelve arrived at 49 Arlington Street a typical Worcester style three decker with heavy fire showing from the B & C sides and reported possible people trapped on floor two. Car four arrived and transmitted a second alarm with Engine's 7,15 Ladder 5 & Car 3 responding. Interior crews were forced to back out of the upper floors due to heavy fire conditions while exterior crews began to protect numerous exposures. Ladder three reported an exterior porch collapse in the rear and all interior fire crews were evacuated from the building and fireground operations went defensive. A One story garage became involved to the rear and due to a live electrical wire down command special called Engine 4 to respond off Providence Street and handle that fire as police began evacuating the surrounding homes in the affected area. A large majority of fire was darkened down with the exterior attack and firefighters from Rescue One were allowed to reenter the building to preform a secondary search for the reported missing occupant. As members began to search the second floor the safety officer broke thru with urgent traffic reported a full collapse of the rear of the building seconds later engine thirteen advised a full wall collapse into the "C" exposure and reported hearing a PASS device sounding. A third alarm was subsequently sounded bringing Engine's 16,3 & Ladder 2 followed shortly thereafter for an additional special call for the Special Operations (Engine 5) & Ladder 4 while on scene firefighters began to search the pile for the two missing men. Firefighter Jon Davies was extricated and transported to UMASS Memorial Hospital where he died of his injuries, Firefighter Brian Carroll was extricated an hour later from the basement and transported to UMASS Memorial Hospital where he was treated for serious but non life threatening injuries.

The incident occurred five days after the twelfth anniversary of the Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse Fire that killed six firefighters on December 3, 1999. The last Worcester Firefighter killed from injuries received while on duty was Lieutenant Donald Quinlan who was injured while operating at a New Years Eve fire at 634 Grafton Street, Box 07-14 on December 31, 2007. Lieutenant Quinlan was a 30 Year Veteran of the Department and was assigned to Rescue 1, He also previously served as the Chief of the Barre, Massachusetts Fire Department he succumbed to his injuries on March 22, 2008.

On Thursday, December 15, 2011 thousands of firefighters from all over the United States and several other countries gathered together for Firefighter Davies Funeral which was held at The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church On Mulberry Street. Mutual Aid from Grafton, Shrewsbury, Milford, Marlborough, Ashland and Framingham responded to city calls so all Worcester Firefighter could attend the services. Pipes & Drum Bands from across New England marched the fallen firefighter to his final resting place as the rain began to fall. A large gathering of firefighters gathered at the DCU Center later that afternoon. The man who was reported to be still inside the building that trapped the two firefighters was found safe the day of the wake and was arrested on a previous case not involving the fire.

There have been many fires in the Arlington Street area recently On November 24, 2010 a electrical fire was extinguished at a home at 56 Dorchester Street, September 18, 2011 around 4am a fire was reported at 48 Arlington Street, & October 3, 2011 around 4am 51 Arlington Street firefighters extinguished a porch fire. all of which occurred since the 109 Year Old Providence Street Station was closed in late 2008 the fire Department relocated Engine 12 to the newly opened Franklin Street Station & Ladder 5 was moved to the McKeon Road firehouse, UMASS Worcester EMS now occupies the station known locally as "The Rock." Additionally in 2005 a Arlington Street building was destroyed by a early morning multiple alarm fire.

Overnight Vehicle Fire In Pawtucket

Shortly after extinguishing a small fire in the engine compartment of a wrecked vehicle on the exit 27 off ramp to Route 95 Northbound the "300" tones went off once again for Pawtucket firefighters this time for a possible vehicle fire adjacent to a structure at 49 Vernon Street. Engine's 3,2,6 Ladder 2 & Battalion 4 answered the alarm with the chief arriving and reporting a car fire with a access problem. Engine three arrived and stretched a line thru the rear yard to a parking lot off Summit Street where the front of a Range Rover sports utility vehicle was engulfed with fire extending to a nearby fence. Once the fence was removed firefighters made quick work of the vehicle fire using one line there was no extension to any structures. The fire is under investigation by the fire prevention office.

Ashaway General Alarm (4) Mill Fire

Around 11:30 on Sunday night the Hopkington public safety office received a call from a worker reporting smoke in the Thames River Tube Mill located at 64 High Street (Route 216) in the Ashaway District. The Ashaway fire chief arrived and reported a light smoke condition from the two story wooden 100x300 mill building as volunteers responded to the station located less than a mile away at Route 3 & Route 216 for the apparatus. Engine 414 arrived and began an interior attack on a fire believed to be in the office area but were evacuated shortly thereafter as heavy fire conditions towards the rear of the building lit up the night sky. Due to the rural area and no hydrants in the district four alarms and several tanker task forces were requested in quick succession through Southern Fire Control. Fire took hold of the entire wooden portion of the building sending brands towards numerous exposures and additional special calls were made. Eighteen to twenty tankers were dispatched from the surrounding Rhode Island & Connecticut area some from over forty-five minutes away while two water holes were established to fill the incoming tankers. Members drafted from the Ashaway River at Laurel Street & High Street and used the water tank at the Hopkington Industrial Park additionally firefighters also drafted from the river in the rear of the fire building to maintain a water supply for suppression efforts. Over 150 Firefighters from Ashaway, Bradford, Westerly, Dunns Corners, Exeter, West Greenwich, Coventry, South Kingstown, Hope Valley/Wyoming, Richmond/Carolina, Stonington, North Stonington, Groton, Ashaway EMS, Charlestown EMS & Westerly EMS worked for hours in a exterior operation. Hope Valley Ladder One & Dunns Corners Tower Ladder 5 flowed water along with two deck guns and several big lines which contained the fire within three hours, firefighters utilized a interior operation in the cinder block section saving that portion of the complex. Members remained on scene well into Monday containing hot spots and investigating the cause. Two Firefighters received injuries of unknown extent. The 160 year old town landmark which was rebuilt after burning down in 1848 was heavily damaged and will be demolished. RIDOT was requested to sand the roadway as due to the historically cold October weather.