Operations & Training

Propane-Fueled Fire Destroys Three RI Houses

Jan. 22, 2021

"Once those propane tanks went it was like a fireball," said Portsmouth's assistant chief about the fire that engulfed the Prudence Island homes.

By Will Richmond

Source Newport Daily News, R.I.

As many as 35 firefighters from multiple departments battled a propane-fueled fire that destroyed three Prudence Island, RI, homes late Thursday.

PORTSMOUTH, RI—Three homes on Prudence Island were destroyed in a late night fire fueled by propane tanks.

Portsmouth Fire Assistant Chief Howard Tighe said firefighters were dispatched Thursday night at 10:57 p.m. with all on-duty personnel sent to the island. Upon arrival crews immediately found three homes fully engulfed in flames.

"You could see it from across the bay that how quick it was," Tighe said. "Once those propane tanks went it was like a fireball."

Tighe said no one was in any of the three homes and there were no injuries.

Mutual assistance also came from Newport, Middletown and Bristol fire departments along with help from the Prudence Island volunteer firefighters. In total Tighe estimated 30 to 35 firefighters were on the scene.

In addition to the three homes that were destroyed, Tighe said the fire extended to two other homes, but damages were limited to the exterior.

"That was a huge safe," Tighe said in reference to the limited damage of the other homes.

Tighe said the fire was brought under control at approximately 1 a.m. and all crews with the exception of the volunteer unit left the island around 3 a.m.

He said Friday morning that investigators from the state Fire Marshal's office and Portsmouth Police were on scene to examine the damage.

"I've been here for 20 years and I haven't seen a fire there that size," Tighe said.

Battling the fire was a challenge Tighe said due to the lack of personnel and equipment as well access to water. He said they had to run lines approximately 600 feet to have water pumped from Narragansett Bay due to a lack of waterlines on the island.

He said the effort was aided, however, by the department's new fireboat. Tighe said with the department's old boat trips from the mainland to Prudence Island would normally take about 15 minutes. With the new boat, those trips are now about five minutes.

He said the boat was used to continuously ferry crew from the mainland to the island.

This story will be updated with more information as it becomes available.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Mulitple homes destroyed in Prudence Island fire

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