Owner Wants Paul Masse Fire Investigated

The fire that caused major traffic problems on Tower Hill Road on June 29 is suspicious to the owner of the building, and he’s asked the state fire marshal to investigate, according to South Kingstown police reports.

According to manager Robert Masse, 23, the fire began shortly after 2 p.m., while he was in his office at Paul Masse Buick GMC South. He told police that smoke started billowing in, and the building was immediately evacuated.

Robert and Paul Masse, 53, both told police that they thought the fire was deliberately set. They both told police that the building was brand new, and they hadn’t had any problems with it prior to the fire. They estimated the damage at $250,000 to $500,000.

Paul Masse said there should be security footage of the fire, and he said he would hand it over to police once the power to the building was restored.

The fire is believed to have started on the roof, and both Masses said a crew had been working there earlier in the day. However, neither told police whether they though the crew was responsible.

An investigator from the state fire marshal’s office was assigned to the case.

According to online property records, the value of the property is $1.4 million – $808,200 for the main building, $537,400 for the land and $73,400 for several other small structures.