Story by TOM CARMODY & Photos by TOM CARMODY and JOHN BOTELLO

On September 19, 2002, at approximately 2100 hours, the Johnston, RI Fire Department dispatched companies to the 900 block of Atwood Avenue for a reported building fire.

Engine One arrived first and reported heavy smoke showing from the rear of an occupied Chinese restaurant. The fire appeared to originate in the cellar of the one story cinder-block building.

High heat, zero visibility and limited access kept the interior crews from reaching the seat of the fire. As conditions deteriorated, the Incident Commander decided to withdraw all personnel, and not a moment too soon. As the last members were exiting the building, the first floor partially collapsed into the cellar.

Firefighters attempted to gain access to the basement by cutting holes in the remaining sections of flooring, just inside doorways, and by breaching the cinder-block walls with sledgehammers.

Two firefighters were treated on the scene for minor injuries. It took about two hours to bring this fire under control. Cranston's Engine Five with Air Supply One responded to the fire, while other mutual aid cities filled empty Johnston stations.