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May 9, 2007

Update: Two in Providence fire in critical condition

PROVIDENCE -- A 75-year-old man and 44-year-old man are in critical condition with burns at Rhode Island Hospital today after firefighters pulled them from a burning building last night.

The shed-like structure at 35 Vinton St. had a wooden piece placed across the front door that impeded exit and entry, the city fire marshal said today. The building included a room and a bathroom, although Fire Marshal Anthony DiGiulio said there was no gas or electricity running throught the building.

The wooden piece on the door may have been used to stop someone from breaking in, Deputy Assistant Fire Chief Curt Varone said last night.

"Right now, we believe it was accidental," DiGiulio said of the fire. He said one theory is the men may have fallen asleep and one of them might have been smoking. The fire, he said, seems to have emanated from the area of a chair in the building. The men had cigarettes in their possession.

The fire marshal would not release the names of the injured men.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney and Journal staff writer Randal Edgar

The fire was reported at 8:52 p.m., and a large crowd of neighbors came to the scene and said the building has been a hangout for older men in the neighborhood.

"It was more like a shed. It was not even as big as a garage," said DiGiulio.

Two neighbors, William Molis and Scott Tropeano, said last night that they tried to break through the front door after smelling smoke and realizing the building was on fire.

"We're two good-sized guys. I couldn't believe we couldn't get that door open," Tropeano said.

Tropeano said he helped several people -- including one of last night's victims -- escape from the fire early Monday morning in a triple-decker at 8 Gesler St.

"I didn't think lightning was going to strike twice," he said.

The building is between two multi-family houses and appears to have been a store or shop at one time. Varone said firefighters found a lot of debris in the building, including a couch, a table saw and tools that might have been used for woodworking.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:11 PM | Permalink

May 9, 2007

Update: Two in Providence fire in critical condition

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