Fire damages State Street apartment building

Fire broke out in an apartment building on State Street early Tuesday afternoon, with flames leaping from a first-floor window. A quick response likely saved several people from becoming homeless.

Calls came in around noon of a fire in a building at 213 State St., on the corner of State and Rock streets. Firefighters were able to knock down the blaze quickly, containing the damage to one of the building's eight apartments, according to Bristol Fire Chief Michael DeMello.

"The crews had a pretty decent amount of fire showing on the first floor," Chiefg DeMello said at the scene. "They were able to knock that down pretty quickly, pretty aggressively. We were able to open up the walls, make sure there was no fire extending to the other floors. Most of the damage is contained to one apartment on the first floor."

Check out a video of the Fire Department's response

No one was injured in the fire, Chief DeMello said, and it is unclear at this point how many people live in the building. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Dr. D.K. Abbass, who lives in the building next door to the apartment that burned, said she heard smoke detectors start beeping, then a fire alarm go off just before seeing the blaze.

"I could see flames coming out of the downstairs window next door," said Dr. Abbass, who runs the RI Marine Archaeology Project. "I grabbed my dogs and one of the cats and left. Living things are more important than dead. And although I'd be very sorry to lose everything, the important thing is everyone is safe. Except one cat. I don't know what happened to him; he's hiding."

Portsmouth and Warren Fire Departments also responded to the call. In total, two ladder trucks and three fire engines, along with the Providence Canteen and several police cars responded.