Fire scorches Johnston apartment building, forces dozens from their homes

JOHNSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — A heavy fire ripped through a Johnston apartment complex on Sunday afternoon, leaving dozens of people without a home.

An ABC 6 News crew on scene saw smoke rising from a charred building at Simmons Village on Simmonsville Avenue.

“Two people further down from us — they don’t walk, so one had to wait upstairs for the fireman to get around, and the other one — they took out the third floor window down that long ladder,” Nancy Langton, a resident, told ABC 6 News.

“We’re shaking all over,” she added.

The building was significantly damaged, with multiple units destroyed.

Chief David Iannuccilli said about 40 to 50 people are displaced. Many are being assisted by the Red Cross.

He said one firefighter and three residents were brought to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.

Multiple surrounding fire agencies sent mutual aid to the fire, including Cranston, Providence, and Smithfield.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.