Firefighters sent to hospital after battling Eaton Street fire

March 31, 2016 2:38 pm

By Bianca Buono

@BBuonoABC6

bbuono@abc6.com

At least twelve firefighters have been sent to the hospital after battling a massive blaze on Eaton Street in Providence.

College students in Providence were stunned as they watched flames rip through Eaton Street, one of the most popular streets in the city for student housing.

"I looked out and one of the houses was literally up in flames and one of the other houses was getting caught on,” said a student at Johnson and Wales.

"I mean it was horrifying I couldn’t believe it especially being so close to us,” said one Providence College student.

The three alarm fire destroyed three homes. Witnesses say it may have been started by a couch fire on the deck of the second floor, but the blistering winds caused the fire to rapidly spread.

"The wind caused the extension from one house to two houses as well and if they didn’t get into those houses and knock that fire down the wind would have caused the extension and it could’ve taken this whole block out,” said Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare.

"Just great work all around by our entire team and as you can see they’re still working hard to make sure it’s fully extinguished,” said Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza.

A spokesman for Providence College told ABC6 that no PC students were hurt, but 19 of them lived in houses adjacent to the fire which have suffered serious water damage.

"We are bringing all of those students back onto campus tonight. We will work with them to provide housing on campus for as long as they need it as well as assist them with clothing books computers anything else they might need to help them get through the rest of the semester,” said Steve Maurano, the Associate Vice President of Public Affairs at Providence College.