2 Prov Firefighters Injured in Eaton St. Blaze, Union Pres Blasts Mayor for Wearing Fire Jacket

Friday, April 01, 2016

GoLocalProv News Team

Two firefighters were seriously injured at the five alarm Eaton Street fire at Providence College on Thursday, and the head of the firefighter union says Mayor Jorge Elorza showing up in a captain's coat was "purely political."

All on duty firefighters in Providence were deployed to two four-and-five alarm fires in Providence on Thursday, with two ending up being treated in city hospitals.

"Captain Fontaine is the most seriously injured, he was at ICU at Roger Williams, and he's being trans to Rhode Island Hospital," said Paul Doughty, President of the Local IAAF 799 on Thursday night.

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"While he was at Roger Williams, he had difficulty breathing -- he's been given a cyanide antidote," said Doughty. "The treatment protocol administering the antidote is to [anyone] who may have been exposed to smoke."

Doughty said the mutual aid on Thursday -- to deal with both a five alarm and then a four alarm fire -- was wide-reaching.

"[Fontaine] was at the Eaton Street fire. I know of Lincoln, Cumberland, Warwick, North Providence, and Seekonk all coming out," said Doughty. "The first fire wasn't all the way out when firefighters were called to the second one, which was at Laurel Hill and Laban."

Second Firefighter Treated; Doughty Calls Foul on Politics

"One of the firefighters is being treated for cardiac problems at Miriam, he's not being released [Thursday night]," said Doughty. "I'm not releasing his name as I haven't spoken with his family. I don't have an update on him, he's still being held The cardiac work up had not been returned, but the blood test didn't look good. They were both at Eaton Street.

Doughty said the high winds Thursday were "absolutely" a factor.

"The wind was an incredible factor," said Doughty. " It almost makes it impossible. If you make one mistake in terms of tactics , it could have burned all the way to Douglas [Avenue] with those building and those porches."

"Eaton was 5 alarm, and Laban was 4 alarm. Every single on duty firefighter was deployed," said Doughty. "We've had times with multiple fires on one day -- but never like this today."

Doughty had harsh words for Elorza on Thursday, who came to the Eaton Street fire -- wearing a chief's coat.

"He had a chief's coat -- is he playing chief today?" asked Doughty. "It's absolutely political -- he shows up at the high profile fires. And we're on the gravy train? We haven't seen him since the Textron fire."