Smoke From Fire At BankNewport Requires All Hands On Deck For FD

NEWPORT, RI — The Fire Department had all hands on deck needing engines from all three fire stations Thursday evening to put out a fire in the BankNewport basement at Washington Square.

Although the fire was brief lasting only ten minutes before the department extinguished it, challenges from smoke required a large crew. The smoke started when a fan in the basement caught fire, which caused its plastic casing to melt. According to Deputy Fire Chief Drew Elder, the smoke caused visibility problems, making a larger crew required.

“Everyone working was on the scene, if only briefly for some,” Elder told Newport Daily News.

Others firefighters were needed at the bank longer to help ventilate the building. This required some crew members to stay almost two hours longer.

The exact reason the fan caught fire and the extent of the smoke damage are not known at this time.

Photo by Margo Sullivan/Patch