Pawtucket, RI - Heavy smoke and fire conditions greeted the crew of Engine 1 as they arrived on scene of an occupied 30x60 three-story, wood-framed dwelling at 121 Magill St. around 3 a.m. Oct. 3.
The second-floor side 3-4 corner had heavy overlapping fire running the stairwell upwards as firefighters started an aggressive interior attack.
Engines 5 and 2 personnel tagged water supplies and also stretched in back lines to try to get a hold on the rapidly spreading blaze. The Battalion Chief requested a second-alarm.
The fire was now spreading into the third-floor and cock loft of this flat roofed balloon framed New England triple-decker.
The chief had fire alarm transmit the evacuation tones, and to strike the third-alarm bringing the rest of the city's fire apparatus to the scene. Once all firefighters were outside, a manpower roll call was conducted.
Ladder 2 and Tower Ladder 2 had a difficult time getting their sticks into position due to overhead wires.
The bulk of the heavy fire was knocked in an hour allowing the firefighters to re-enter the dwelling to get to pockets of hidden fire. The fire was placed under control around 4:30 a.m.
Mutual aid came from Providence, North Providence, and East Providence covered the empty firehouses during the fire.
The fire is under investigation by the Pawtucket Fire Department.
