Two Men Evacuated South Main Street House During Fire

Solomon Chauvin, 22, was driving past 631 South Main St. Sunday at about 11:45 a.m. when he saw black smoke coming out of the building. He pulled over and ran inside yelling for tenants to get out.

Another man, Michael Ptaszek, also alerted residents to the fire and worked to get them outside, according to a report from Turnto10.com. 

Not long after the men had gotten everyone safely out, a propane tank on the front porch exploded, Ghauvin said, according to Officer Patrick Greeno's report. Greeno and officer Michael Velino were coincidentally en route to speak with a tenant there, at her request. Greeno noted it was likely the third floor propane tank which Chauvin referred to, as both the second- and third-story porches had propane gas grills on them, and the second floor tank appeared intact.

Linda Houle, 45, of 641 South Main St., said she was alerted to the fire by the smell of smoke, but couldn't see it at first, eventually spotting it coming from 631 South Main St. After that, she said, a propane tank on one of the porches exploded, according to Velino's report.

"That hasn't been confirmed," said Woonsocket Fire Marshal Mike Morin, referring to the reports of an explosion.

Morin said the cause of the fire was a carelessly disposed cigarette. He said he's not releasing the origin of the fire at this time. The Providence Journal reports two firefighters were injured while fighting the blaze. They were treated for minor injuries at Landmark Medical Center.

Morin said that his office will begin public outreach to warn people against leaving combustible material, such as furniture and gas grills, on their porches. Morin said the practice, something many people in apartment houses with porches do, sets up a dangerous situation. With no fire alarms on the outside of the buildings, "Anything accidental doesn't get caught right away," Morin said. That's exactly what happened in this case, he added.