Fire At Matunuck Oyster Bar In South Kingstown Appears Accidental: State Fire Marshal

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI — The Rhode Island State Fire Marshal's Office released preliminary findings regarding a massive fire that ravaged Matunuck Oyster Bar in South Kingstown on Tuesday.

State fire officials said the fire appears to be accidental, but an exact cause has yet to be determined.

"Based on information collected to date by inspectors, several possible causes have been ruled out, including commercial cooking equipment being a direct cause of the fire," Matthew Touchette, a spokesperson for the fire marshal's office, said. "Currently, no exact cause has been determined, however preliminary indications suggest the fire was accidental. Steps have been taken to preserve the security and integrity of the fire scene so that investigators can continue to examine the scene safely. Extensive mitigation measures have also been taken to prevent any contamination to nearby inland waterways."

The fire broke out around 3:44 a.m. at the popular South Kingstown restaurant at at 629 Succotash Road. Crews arrived within eight minutes to find heavy flames coming from the back of the building and the second floor. Fire officials said no one was inside when the fire started.

Strong winds accelerated the flames, as firefighters aggressively attacked the blaze. The fire reached the building's void spaces, making the firefighting operation more challenging. Firefighters then struck a second alarm to bring additional resources to the scene.

Crews battled the blaze for about 90 minutes before knocking down the flames and getting the fire under control. No firefighters were injured, fire officials said. About 35 firefighters responded to the scene, with the Union Fire District of South Kingstown bringing in seven engines, two ladder trucks, and a heavy rescue truck.

Mutual aid was provided by fire departments from Narragansett, North Kingstown, Charlestown and the Kingston Fire District. The North Kingstown Fire Department also provided station coverage, while South Kingstown EMS and the University of Rhode Island EMS were both at the scene on standby. The South Kingstown Police Department secured the roads surrounding the building.

Due to the building's location on the waterfront, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management also responded to the scene.

"My whole life, I’ve had tremendous respect for firefighters," owner Perry Raso said in a Facebook post. "My grandfather served in the NYFD and growing up I often heard the story of him climbing 78 flights with a fire hose to fight the Empire State Building fire in 1945. That story shaped me. On Tuesday morning, watching firefighters from the Union Fire District and Narragansett Fire District battle the fire at Matunuck Oyster Bar deepened my respect for what they do in ways I never imagined as I witnessed their passion, skill, and selflessness as they fought to save what they could while so much of my life’s work was engulfed in flames. Watching them work together and risk their lives to protect our business was profoundly moving."