Minor Electrical Fire Reveals Major Violations In House

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. -- A small electrical fire in a Lincoln Avenue home on Monday afternoon revealed serious code violations, causing officials to cut power to the house until updates are made. Two families have been displaced.

Central Falls Fire Chief Robert E. Bradley Jr. said the fire was very small, and started when the wires of a lighting fixture heated up, starting a fire on the beam it was attached to. The larger issues were discovered later, when investigators uncovered multiple major electrical code violations.

Power was cut to the home at the street until the violations are corrected and an inspection is completed. As a result, the eleven people living in the house were temporarily displaced.

"It was easier for us and easier for them to get it fixed right," Bradley said. "This could have been very serious if it happened in the middle of the night."

The flames broke out around 3:30 p.m. and were quickly extinguished. Bradley added that it's unclear if the fire was directly caused by an electrical code violation or simply because the wires were old.

The American Red Cross is assisting the two families, six adults and five children, until they can return to their home.