Woonsocket Fire Under Investigation: Officials

WOONSOCKET, RI — Five families are displaced because of an early morning fire Thursday. According to fire Chief Paul Shatraw, the Hamlet Street house is salvageable, but people cannot return to their homes until repairs are completed. The Red Cross is helping with temporary shelter.

The first alarm sounded around 4 a.m. Everyone escaped unhurt, the chief said. No pets were injured in the fire, and no firefighters suffered injuries. He said the crews knocked the fire down fast. He estimated it was all over in about a half hour.

As for a cause, the fire is still under investigation, he said. But Shatraw confirmed the fire department has been to the same house before.

"We've had previous incidents," he said. He did not want to go into details about how the fire appears to have started because the investigation is underway.

Police Det. Capt. Michael Lemoine called this fire "suspicious" and said that's why the State Fire Marshall’s office has become involved.

"It appears the fire began on the outside of the house," he said. "At this time no suspects have been identified. Red Cross was on scene to assist displaced families."

The Red Cross said 11 adults and nine children cannot go back to their homes.

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