Home»Fire Incidents»2009 Incidents»Working Fire North Smithfield, RI 375-B Saint Paul Street September 30, 2009

North Smithfield, RI – Calls for smoke from the building rang into the North Smithfield Fire Department around 1030hrs on September 30, 2009 for the address of 375-B Saint Paul Street. Fire Alarm stilled out Engine 1, Engine 2, Cars 1, 2, & 3, along with a task force from the City of Woonsocket Fire Department to respond to the scene. Engine 1, whose station is less than a mile from the scene, was out of town training with the Woonsocket Fire Department at a vacant mill complex. Engine 2 was covering the town from Headquarters. Engine 2 arrived first due and reported a heavy smoke condition from an occupied 1 story wood frame dwelling. This dwelling had several irregular shaped additions attached throughout the years. Engine 2 stretched in a 1 ¾” attack line through a side 2 doorway into the heavily charged dwelling. Lieutenant D. Mowry reported a rapidly advancing attic fire to command. Woonsocket Ladder 1 made the roof via side 2 and opened it up on side 2 over one of the many roof line changes. The truckies encountered a heavy smoke condition in the attic with fire soon making its way through the roof. NSFD Engine 1, Woonsocket Engine 3, Blackstone Engine 51, Millville Engine 2, all arrived on scene to either stretch in back up lines or to help with the extensive opening to expose the pockets of hidden fire. North Smithfield Tanker 1 arrived to feed Engine 2 due to the lack of hydrants in the area. The bulk of the heavy fire was knocked down in 30 minutes. Burrillville Rescue 3 responded to the scene to treat a member of Ladder 1 who sustained a minor hand injury opening up the roof. Mutual aid responded from Burrillville and Smithfield to cover the 2 empty firehouses. This is the second fire in this dwelling in the past 10 years. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the North Smithfield Fire Marshal.