Fire Destroys RI House Speaker Shekarchi's Law Office Building

WARWICK, RI — An overnight fire destroyed the building that houses the law office of Rhode Island House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi.

The call came in from outside the commercial building at around 10 p.m., and when crews arrived, the structure at 33 College Hill Road was completely engulfed, said Warwick Fire Chief Peter McMichael. Firefighters battled the flames for several hours, and the roof collapsed.

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A Shekarchi spokesperson told WPRI-12 that the speaker had just returned home from a late session at the State House when he received a call from Mayor Frank Picozzi about the fire. Shekarchi met up with Picozzi at the scene.

Shekarchi released the following statement:

“I thank the Warwick fire and police departments and the state fire marshal’s office for their excellence and professionalism. I am so grateful no one was in the building and that there were no injuries sustained in fighting the fire. I have no idea about the cause and don’t want to speculate. I will let the professionals do their jobs.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation.