Crime & Safety

UPDATE: 1 Adult, 1 Pet Injured in Wood Cove Drive Blaze

The fire that destroyed a multi-unit home on Johnson's Pond is said to have started in a clothes dryer.

 

3:20 p.m.: Reports indicate that homeowner Bob Houghton and his tenants are currently homeless as none of the occupants of the home had insurance. The dog that was transported to Ocean State animal hospital has been treated and released.

10:58 a.m.: According to Central Coventry Fire Captain David Gorman, the fire is believed to have started in an operational clothes dryer located in a first floor laundry room.

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"We think that there may have been a clogged dryer hose that backed everything up and caught the clothes on fire," said Gorman. "From there the fire looks to have spread to the kitchen into the attic and then to the rest of the house."

5:17 a.m.: According to officials, one woman was transported to Kent Hospital with non-life threatening smoke inhalation. A dog was also removed from the residence on a stretcher and transported to Ocean State animal hospital with unknown injuries.

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The other four residents of the multi-unit home, including an infant escaped safely. Both families have been displaced as investigators say the house is a total loss from smoke and fire damage.

Crews remained at the residence well into Tuesday morning extinugishing hot spots. The State Fire Marshal will be on the scene later this morning to investigate the cause of the fire.

2:29 a.m.: Coventry crews are still on scene maintaining fire-fighting efforts and have started the breakdown of some equipment. Check back with Coventry Patch Tuesday morning for updates on a possible cause of this early morning fire.

1:51 a.m.: Flames are still being reported in the garage area and first floor with hot spots on the second floor and back porch of the residence as crews continue to work.

1:50 a.m.: RI Red Cross has been contacted on behalf of two families that have been displaced, totaling four adults and one child. 

1:28 a.m.: Crews are still on scene extingushing the fire externally and have begun to gain control. Several hot spots in the area of the roof continue to be reported.

1:14 a.m.: According to Rhode Island Statewide scanner feed, all responders are out of the building. CCFD Tower 3 has been stationed in front of the home for water.

12:42 a.m.: Shorty before 12:30 a.m. on Feb. 19, Central Coventry fire crews responded to 50 Wood Cove Dr. for a reported dwelling fire.

Upon arrival, CCFD Engine 4 crew reported wires down in the driveway and attempted to begin extinguishing the blaze before requesting assistance from Hopkins Hill FD at 12:37 a.m. Approximately 20 minutes later, firefighters were ordered out of the building due to deteriorating conditions. 

According to scanner feeds, all occupants of the residence had escaped and were accounted for as of 12:45 a.m.

Stay with Coventry Patch for more details as they become available.


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