Coventry, RI -- Shortly after noon on Saturday July 24, 2004 Coventry Fire Alarm began receiving calls reporting a fire at Domenic's Pizza on Tiogue Avenue.
Firefighters from the Tiogue, Washington and Hopkins Hill Districts were dispatched with Tiogue Engine 4 arriving first and reporting heavy fire showing from the rear of the structure.
The restaurant was busy getting ready for an evening fundraiser but all of the occupants had evacuated prior to the arrival of the fire department.
Firefighters stretched a line inside to extinguish the fire but found it was being fed by a broken natural gas line. Command immediately requested the gas company and a second alarm to be struck. The second alarm brought firefighters from the Anthony, Harris and Central Coventry Districts.
As conditions deteriorated, command requested a third alarm and a task force from West Warwick to the scene. All interior operations were ceased and master streams, including Hopkins Hill Quint 1 and West Warwick's Tower Ladder 1, went into operation.
Four firefighters were taken to Kent County Hospital and treated for minor injuries.
The fire is believed to have started when an unattended barbecue grill burned through the gas line attached to the meter.
