Fire in Coventry causes several buildings to close
By Bianca Buono
@BBuonoABC6
An overnight fire has seriously damaged seven units at 577 Tiogue Avenue in Coventry, causing all businesses to close.
"About ten minutes of 3:00 this morning in the early morning hours, we received an automatic fire alarm that was triggered by a device, the sprinkler system,” said Central Coventry Fire District Chief Peter Lamb.
The fire started just outside the hair salon by what officials say may have been a cigarette.
"This is devastating and it’s a little bit unique in this case,” Chief Lamb said.
It’s unique because damage caused by the fire and smoke is limited to just the front stations of the salon. The majority of the damage is water damage caused from the sprinklers going off. But fire officials say had those sprinklers not been there, it would have been a much different situation.
"I can tell you with certainty our firefighters did a great job but the absence of sprinklers this would be a catastrophic loss. There’s no question,” Chief Lamb said.
But all businesses suffered serious water damage including a chocolate shop. The owner tells ABC6 nearly everything inside is a total loss because chocolate can’t get wet. The damage is especially frustrating for a Chinese restaurant.
"Everyone knows that New Year’s Eve you go out for Chinese food, it’s very common, and obviously with this restaurant here that’s a pretty good economic loss,” said Chief Lamb.
Employees at the Chinese restaurant are working tirelessly in hopes of opening their doors for the holiday. The salon has been contacted by other salons in the area, offering to rent out space to them until they can reopen.
Nobody was inside the building at the time of the fire and no injuries have been reported.
