Fire Contained to Garage by Portsmouth Firefighters

PORTSMOUTH, RI–Nobody was hurt and a Power Street house was spared from major damage after a fire Sunday morning.

Portsmouth Fire Department Dep. Fire Chief Michael P. O’Brien said that the fire was caused by ambers that had been removed from a wood stove and placed in a container that eventually burned through and caught fire.

The fire department got a 911 call at around 8:55 a.m. from the resident at 84 Power Street who said his house was on fire.

Two Portsmouth engines and a ladder truck arrived within four minutes and found the fire in an attached garage. Crews were able to extinguish the fire before it spread to the house.

Firefighters found high levels of carbon monoxide in the house and were able to ventilate the house to remove it.

Portsmouth Fire Chief Michael Cranston said the incident is a reminder about proper handling of ashes.

“Only remove ash from fire places and woodstoves after they have cooled,” he said. “Once removed, the ash must be stored outdoors in a metal container and away from any combustible materials.”