Four people displaced after garage fire in North Providence

NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Four people are displaced after a fire broke out inside the garage of their home in North Providence on New Year’s Day.

North Providence Fire Chief John Silva said the blaze evolved into a two-alarm fire due to several hazards in the area.

This is a photo of firefighters at a home on Marconi Street in North Providence where a fire broke out. (WLNE)

Silva said live wires disconnected from the house and fell into the street. Solar panels also posed an electrical threat to firefighters.

“You can’t cut through solar panels,” Silva said. “Even though they may be de-energized from the outside, they still store energy, so if we were to cut down on those panels [the voltage] could kill somebody.”

The four occupants were home at the time of the incident and were able to evacuate unharmed after they smelled smoke and heard burning.

“[The garage] was fully involved when crews showed up,” Silva said. “They made an excellent stop…stopping it from going laterally to the rest of the house.”

The Red Cross will find temporary shelter for those displaced. The state fire marshal is investigating the cause of the blaze.