Apartment fire displaces six families

JOHNSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - Several people were forced out of their homes early Tuesday after a fire started in their apartment building. It happened around 4 a.m. on Starr Street in Johnston.

Both the police and fire departments remain on the scene investigating, but they they believe the fire began outside of the building.

About six apartments were evacuated, leaving several people displaced. The Red Cross is assisting 12 people, ten adults and two children, in six families with temporary lodging and financial help for food and clothing needs.

One woman said she was confused when she heard about the fire and didn’t know it was happening in her building until she went outside.

“It’s 4 in the morning so at first I thought she said the house next door was on fire, but then, so I thought, I’ll just go outside, it’s not that big of a deal. But then when I realized she was talking about my house, I don’t know I just kind of panicked," said Samantha Isherwood, a resident.

According to the fire chief, everyone did make it out safely. There’s no significant damage to the inside of the apartments, but it did spread to one apartment. The fire chief said the damage there is mostly from water and smoke.

The cause remains under investigation.