Riverside Man Dies After Saturday Fire

An elderly East Providence man died Saturday, Dec. 29, after a morning fire at his Riverside home that has been ruled accidental.

Clifford Franke, 73, of 114 Providence Ave., reportedly died at Rhode Island Hospital about 3:30 pm from extensive burns over his entire body.

Firefighters found him on the floor of his home when they drug hoses through a breezeway into the house. He was transported to the hospital by East Providence EMTs. 

Franke lived alone, said East Providence Fire Marshal Oscar Elmasian. It is believed he was home alone when the fire started.

A passerby called in the fire when he observed heavy smoke coming from the home, Elmasian said.

Two rooms in the house received heavy damage, said the fire marshal. The rest of the house received moderate fire and water damage. The exterior shows little damage, although several windows were broken to run hose lines into the house. 

The house has been boarded up and utilities shut off, said Elmasian.

Multiple companies responded to the blaze at about 10:47 am. The fire was extinguished quickly because it was contained primarily to two rooms.

The state fire marshal and East Providence’s assistant fire marshal, James Bellamy, worked with Elmasian on the investigation.