SWANSEA — Chief Eric Hajder reports that the Swansea Fire Department extinguished a fire at a home on the corner of Bark St. and Houlton St. on Friday afternoon.
On Friday, May 26, at 3:48 p.m. Swansea Fire received multiple calls reporting a structure fire at 9 Houlton St.
Swansea Fire Department Car 2 reported heavy smoke visible en route to the scene. Car 1 arrived first on the scene and reported heavy fire conditions in the raised ranch-style home.
All occupants of the home were out of the building by the time firefighters arrived on the scene. Occupants were evacuated by neighbors, as they were initially unaware of the fire. The fire was burning up an exterior wall and into a ceiling space.
Crews made an aggressive interior attack with multiple hand lines until conditions forced the evacuation of the structure.
Firefighters remained on the scene performing extensive overhaul and the scene was cleared just prior to 8 p.m.
Four Swansea engines, Ladder 1 and Rescue 1 responded to the scene. An additional engine from the Somerset Fire Department was brought to the scene and Swansea Ambulance Corps responded to standby. The Rehoboth Fire Department and Warren Fire Department provided station coverage during the incident.
The home is uninhabitable as a result of the fire, and the damage is estimated to be approximately $250,000. Seven residents and several pets were displaced. There were no injuries reported. The American Red Cross is assisting the residents.
The origin and cause of the fire were jointly investigated by the Swansea Fire Department and State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s Office and determined to be accidental and started with an electrical appliance in the home’s basement bathroom.
Chief Hajder would like to thank Swansea firefighters as well as the mutual aid partners that assisted in this incident.
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