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July 10, 2007

Update: Fire marshal investigating Slater Hospital fire

CRANSTON -- The state fire marshal's office is investigating this morning's fire at the Eleanor Slater Hospital. Ninety-five adult psychiatric patients have since returned to the Adolf Meyer building where the fire broke out.

The fire was confined to Adolf Meyer 10, a unit in the back of the building, according to a news release from the state Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals.

David Curran, an investigator in the state fire marshal's office, would not comment as to whether the fire is being investigated as suspicious. "We are not allowed to comment during an open investigation," he said.

The fire marshal's office investigates fires routinely.

Cranston firefighers went to the building, at 54 Howard Ave., at about 10 a.m. after a fire alarm came in. Ninety-five adult psychiatric patients and 45 staff were evacuated from the building without incident.

Adolf Meyer 10 and Adolf Meyer 7 -- which was unoccupied at the time of the fire -- took damage. Cleanup of those units has begun.

The fire at the hospital -- in the Pastore Complex where several state departments are based -- appears “unrelated to the electrical problems” that resulted from two underground electrical fires Sunday night at the complex that temporarily knocked out power to six state departments yesterday, Jeff Neal, the governor’s spokesman, said earlier today.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson and Journal staff writer David Scharfenberg

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 4:08 PM | Permalink

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