PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Crews have called a general alarm for a fire on Eaton Street in Providence.
A fire broke out inside a three-story home and quickly spread to the adjacent buildings on either side.
Video sent into the Eyewitness Newsroom showed one structure fully engulfed in flames. Providence EMA reports that three structures are involved and according to an Eyewitness News crew on scene, it looked like a fourth structure was in danger of catching fire.
A High Wind Warning remains in effect for the entire area. Gusts possibly reaching 60 mph helped spread the flames and made it difficult for crews to contain the fire.
An eyewitness who said he was on scene shortly after the fire started told us three people were taken out of the house and appeared to be OK. He said a woman was also taken out of the house next door.
According to Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare, a police officer at the scene ran to the next-door houses and helped get the students out.
Providence College spokesman Steve Maurano said 19 students were displaced from the two houses next to the home where the fire started. He said no students were in that first house. Maurano said the 19 students were brought to campus and the school is providing housing and clothing.
Maurano said the 19 students were brought to campus and the school is providing housing and clothing.
Pare and Mayor Jorge Elorza said they don’t believe anyone was living in the home full-time where the fire started.
Pare said the cause remains under investigation. The arson squad was called to the scene though the fire has not be ruled suspicious at this time.
According to a Tweet from PEMA, Eaton street is closed to traffic as crews battle the blaze. And RIPTA said Route 50 is being detoured around the scene.
