Firefighters Battle Oaklawn Avenue Fire

CRANSTON, RI—A fire erupted inside a second-floor room at 200 Oaklawn Ave. and quickly spread through the structure on Sunday night, but nobody was home when the fire started, said Cranston Fire Department Chief William McKenna.

Members of the Cranston Fire Department responded to the fire before 10 p.m. and had to contend with a well-involved fire that had time to burn because nobody was inside to notice the flames.

"It was a tough fire because the fire had a lot of headway," McKenna said at the scene. "The guys did a good job to get in there and knock it down quick."

McKenna said the fire is under investigation and it does not appear to be suspicious based on the circumstances.

The residents have been notified and are responding to the scene, McKenna said.

Ashley DellaVentura, who lives next door, was cooking dinner when she heard a commotion outside.

"Then I saw the fire and ran outside," she said.

After moving her car to give firefighters room to work the fire scene, DellaVentura captured video of the flames shooting into the sky.

Oaklawn Avenue was closed for a time as firefighters worked the scene.

The house at 200 Oaklawn Ave. is a 2,700 square foot colonial that was built in 1973, according to city property records.

DellaVentura said that her mother and stepfather told her the same house caught fire some years ago.

Video courtesy: Ashley DellaVentura