Detective saves residents from Florida Ave. blaze; community rallies behind families

Daniel Kittredge
Posted 6/11/15

A Cranston police detective led several people – including an infant – safely out of a burning three-family home on Florida Avenue this week.

 

Members of the community, …

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Detective saves residents from Florida Ave. blaze; community rallies behind families

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A Cranston police detective led several people – including an infant – safely out of a burning three-family home on Florida Avenue this week.

Members of the community, meanwhile, are rallying behind those displaced by the blaze.

Detective Paula Duffy said she was driving on Haven Avenue at approximately 11 a.m. Wednesday morning when she saw smoke from the fire. She notified dispatch, and acted quickly to get the residents out of the building safely.

“I just screamed to them, ‘Get out, get out, get out, there’s a fire!’” she told members of the media, noting that occupants of the lower floors were unaware of the third-floor blaze at the time.

In all, 14 people – including eight children – between three families were affected and are being assisted by the American Red Cross. No one was hurt. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

Almost immediately, community members began working to support the residents of the home in their time of need through GoFundMe campaigns.

One of the GoFundMe pages, “Florida Avenue Fire Fund,” was set up for all three families by Gina Nardolillo Ginolfi, PTO president at George J. Peters Elementary School. Through the page, efforts were additionally under way Thursday to collect clothing for the affected children.

Another page, “Cranston Family Loses Everything,” was set up by Migdalia Santana, whose sister was among those displaced.

Chief of Police Col. Michael Winquist praised Duffy and other officers for their efforts, along with the city’s fire personnel.

“I commend Detective Duffy for her swift actions in a dangerous situation, which likely saved the lives of the occupants of the building and their pets. Without hesitation she put her own safety at risk,” he said. “Acting Sergeant Thomas Okolowitcz and Officer Stephen Lang should also be recognized for making attempts to gain entry into the third-floor apartment to check for occupants before becoming overwhelmed by smoke. Fortunately, it was later determined the occupant of this apartment had previously exited safely. Firefighters from the Cranston Fire Department also did a tremendous job in extinguishing the fire quickly to ensure neighboring residences did not catch fire."

Duffy said she only did what any of my other co-workers would have done in the same situation.

I did what I was taught to do, save lives,” she said. “It’s a good feeling. I’m glad everybody was able to get out of the house, including the family pets.”

Ward 5 Councilman Chris Paplauskas reached out to the community on Facebook following the blaze.

“Sending thoughts and prayers to those affected due to the house fire on Florida Ave.,” he wrote.

 

 

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