Massive Fire Ravages Popular South Kingstown Restaurant

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI — A popular South Kingstown restaurant was ravaged by a fire on Tuesday morning, officials from the Union Fire District of South Kingstown said.

Around 3:44 a.m., firefighters were called to Matunuck Oyster Bar at 629 Succotash Road for a report of a massive fire. 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.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Fire Chief Pinch lauded his firefighters for their work putting out the fire despite strong winds and the blaze getting into the building's void spaces.

"Our firefighters did a tremendous job, in extreme heat and wind conditions in a difficult building," Pinch said. "It was a pretty stubborn fire. Everyone did a remarkable job to stop the fire as quickly as they did. We had a lot of things working against us, but they did a great job overcoming those obstacles. Thankfully, we had no injuries, which is always nice."

Pinch said the building sustained significant damage. While the building remains standing, it may be a total loss.

"There is significant damage to the building," Pinch said. "It’s still standing, but between the water, fire and smoke damage, the structural problems are significant."

Pinch expressed his sympathy for the owners of the Matunuck Oyster Bar, all their workers, local customers and guests who come throughout New England and beyond to the popular restaurant. The fire is particularly difficult, as this time of year marks the beginning of the restaurant's busy season.

"The Matunuck Oyster Bar is a fixture in the town," Pinch said. "It employs a lot of people. Most people in the community know someone who works there. It has a big impact on the town’s economy. It’s tough imagining the summer going on without having the Oyster Bar open. We feel bad for the owners and all the employees who are now out of work. Hopefully, they rebuild and are even better when they reopen."

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