Swansea Fire Department extinguishes afternoon blaze that destroyed home

SWANSEA — Chief Eric Hajder reports that the Swansea Fire Department extinguished a house fire on Birchwood Drive Tuesday afternoon.

At just after 1:15 p.m., Swansea Fire received a call for a report of a house fire located at 105 Birchwood Drive.

All occupants of the home had evacuated before firefighters arrived.

Crews arrived to find heavy fire showing from the attached deck in the rear of the raised ranch single-family home. Companies immediately initiated an exterior attack of the fire. Soon after firefighters arrived, the flames spread to the residence’s attic and kitchen. Crews extinguished the bulk of the fire from the outside, then proceeded with an interior attack, stretching hose lines into the kitchen. 

Crews had the fire under control within 20 minutes of arrival, but firefighters remained on scene checking for further extensions and hot spots.

No one was injured as a result of the fire.

The home sustained significant fire and water damage and is deemed uninhabitable at this time. Three residents were displaced and are being assisted by family members and the Red Cross.

Mutual aid station coverage was provided by the Warren, Rhode Island Fire Department during the incident.

The preliminary investigation suggests the fire was accidental. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Swansea Fire Department with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.