Woonsocket Firefighters Battle Three-Alarm, Three-Story Fire On Front Street

Woonsocket Firefighters were called to the second fire within six hours tonight at about 9:20 p.m. at 272 Front Street, a three-building triple-decker with 18 units.

The fire was out by about 10:13 p.m.

Most of the residents of the building remained outside watching at about 11 p.m. as firefighters scoured the interior for any remaining pockets of flame. A Red Cross truck parked on the street provided some shelter to a few residents. Some sought shelter in their cars with pets as they waited for word on whether they could return to their homes.

"They got my cat, Mom, one of them," said Heather Lawrence, who lived in the building. Her eyes teared up as she explained she was still waiting word on her other two cats. 

"I was in bed watching TV and the alarm went off," said Raymond Brown, at about 9:20 p.m. By the time he got out of the building, "Flames were shooting out the windows."

WFD Captain David Souza said when they arrived, there was fire on the first floor, extending into the second and third floor. Firefighters entered the first floor to attack the fire, he said.

Firefighters were on the third floor at about 11 p.m. They could be seen moving around, waving flashlights throughout the interior. Souza said they were busy opening the walls to check for any other areas of the building that might have still been on fire. 

"Most of these guys have been to two fires today," said Souza. Many firefighters only left the Lincoln Street fire at 4 p.m. after that call came in at about 12:30 p.m.

While the guys are pretty tired, "They do what firefighters do," Souza said.