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February 1, 2008

Update: Victim of East Side fire ID'd

Journal photo/ Bill Murphy
The Providence Fire Department at the scene of the fatal fire on Lauriston Street on the city's East Side.

PROVIDENCE -- Family identified the man who died in an East Side house fire this morning as Gerald Shapiro -- Jerry to those who knew him.

He was legally blind and was involved with a state association for the blind.

"The synagogue was his life," said a cousin, Roberta Rodman of Canton, Mass., at the scene on Lauriston Street.

She added: "He was a wonderful, wonderful person who was loved by everyone. He was very religious."

It was the second fatal fire in Rhode Island in the past two days. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

According to Fire Chief George Farrell, firefighters found the victim in the front doorway. He was the only person in the house.

Shapiro's mother, Charlotte, who had also lived at the address, died about a month ago.

The fire was reported at about 5:30 a.m. today at 75 Lauriston St.

-- projo.com staff writers Brandie M. Jefferson and Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

Chief Farrell said that a neighbor saw smoke and knocked on the door of the Rochambeau Street fire station to report it. At the same time, Farrell said, someone called 911.

In all, about 35 firefighters from several different fire companies responded to the 2 1/2 story building. Six fire trucks were still on the scene at about 7:20 a.m. as friends of the victim began arriving.

By 7:30 a.m., firefighters' flashlights shone from inside the house and all of the side and front second-story windows were knocked out.

In less than 24 hours yesterday, one person died, two were hospitalized and two firefighters suffered injuries in fires at four houses across the state.

In East Providence early yesterday, James Marinelli, 42, died in a fire at 39 Peck Ave. His mother, Theresa, 70, was rescued by firefighters and taken to the hospital.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 11:54 AM | Permalink

February 1, 2008

Update: Victim of East Side fire ID'd

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