State Fire Marshal investigating Barrington house fire

Fire contained quickly, residents escape unharmed

By Josh Bickford
Posted 2/19/21

The sound of sirens broke the quiet of a snowy Thursday afternoon, as firefighters from three towns responded to a house fire on Sowams Road.

Barrington Fire Captain Ed Owens said the department …

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State Fire Marshal investigating Barrington house fire

Fire contained quickly, residents escape unharmed

Posted

The sound of sirens broke the quiet of a snowy Thursday afternoon, as firefighters from three towns responded to a house fire on Sowams Road.

Barrington Fire Captain Ed Owens said the department received the 911 call at 1:13 p.m. Capt. Owens, who served as incident commander, said that as firefighters arrived on the scene they encountered smoke billowing out the rear entry door at the home.

“Firefighters made entry into the home and extinguished a fire located in a first floor bedroom,” Capt. Owens said. “The fire was confined to the first floor bedroom.”

Capt. Owens said there were two people inside the home when the fire broke out, and both were able to escape unharmed. He also said that the family’s two dogs were able to escape; firefighters were not able to locate the family’s cat, but he believes that it may have run outside during the fire.

It only took firefighters about 10 minutes to contain and extinguish the fire, Capt. Owens said.

“It appeared it started on a bed,” he said, adding that there was widespread damage throughout the room. He also said firefighters needed to knock out windows at the house to vent the smoke. He said the home was uninhabitable following the fire.

“There is smoke and water damage throughout the home,” Capt. Owens said,

Capt. Owens said the Red Cross was assisting the homeowners after the fire, adding that the State Fire Marshal’s office and Barrington Police were investigating.

On Friday morning, Michael Sweeney, chief of the investigations unit at the State Fire Marshal’s office, confirmed that the case remained under investigation, but could not offer further details.

“The State Fire Marshal is investigating the origin and cause of the fire,” he said, adding that there are four classifications for fires: incendiary (fires that are set), accidental, natural fires (such as those resulting from lightning strikes), and undetermined.

The Barrington Fire Department was assisted by East Providence FD and Seekonk FD at the scene, and the Warren Fire Department covered the Barrington Fire Station.

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