UPDATE: Plaza Village Building Evacuated By Two-Alarm Fire

A mysterious two-alarm fire at off of Mendon Road this morning burned through three units, causing extensive water damage to a 24-apartment building in the housing complex. No injuries were reported as a result of the blaze, but residents will not be able to return to their homes today. 

Fire marshals report that the blaze appears to have started in a children's room on the top floor of the three-story building. The tenant told firefighters that she awoke to an unrelated phone call around 7:45 a.m. and then noticed her kids' bedroom burning. Her children, ages 3 and 4, had slept with the woman in her bedroom the previous evening.

"The whole apartment has a lot of heavy damage," said Deputy State Fire Marshal Lt. Michael Morin. "No one's being allowed back in right now." State fire marshals are still working with the Woonsocket Fire Department to determine the cause of the blaze in the vacant room.

Firefighters were called to the scene just before 8 a.m. this morning, and were still cleaning up around 12:30 p.m. this afternoon.

"We had it under control in 20 minutes, but there were still hot spots and we had work to do for several hours," said Deputy Chief Michael Richardson. Mutual Aid was provided by neighboring communities to man the city's fire stations while they fought the blaze.

The complex is managed by Ferland Property Management. Certified Property Manager Frank Bragantin said all 24 of the units were occupied.

"Right now we don't know when we're going to be able to get people back in," Bragantin said.

Update: The American Red Cross reports that 60 people have been impacted by the incident and they are working with families present at the scene to assess needs for temporary lodging as well as assistance for emergency food and clothing needs. The Red Cross will continue working with the 28 adults and 32 children affected by the fire and and will continue assessing the situation as other families not present earlier in the day return home. 

American Red Cross disaster assistance is free of charge, a gift made possible by generous donations and the work of volunteers.  For more information about the Red Cross and how you can help, visit www.riredcross.org.