Eleven People Displaced After Middletown Fire Tuesday Afternoon

MIDDLETOWN, RI— Eleven people are temporarily without a place to live after a fire started behind a condo on West Main Road. Middletown Fire Chief Peter Faerber said an automatic alarm at 969 West Main Road Building 4 sounded at 2:26 p.m. Crews arrived and found a fire outside near the back exit.

"The fire was brought under control quickly," he said. No one was hurt. Newport, Portsmouth, Naval Station and Tiverton fire departments went to the fire, which went to two alarms.

"An Engine from Naval Station Newport covered at Middletown headquarters," he said. "The cause of the fire appears to be improper disposal of smoking materials."

The building will have to be repaired before residents in the 11 damaged units can return.

The American Red Cross is helping the families.

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