(WJAR) — A massive fire that burned down a gun club in North Smithfield has been determined to have started accidentally
according to the Rhode Island Fire Marshal’s Office
the fire that burned down the Sayles Hill Rod and Gun Club originated on the deck of the main entry
Investigators believe the most likely cause were cigarette butts smoldering in a butt can on the deck
Crews rushed to the massive overnight fire on Sayles Hill Road
where first responders had to deal with visible flames
(WLNE) — Fire departments were called to Sayles Hill Rod and Gun Club in North Smithfield around 12:45 a.m
There were no injuries in the incident according to officials
Water tankers from surrounding communities had to be called in by the North Smithfield Fire Department
ABC6 has reached out to North Smithfield fire officials for more information
Sayles Hill Rod and Gun Club Secretary Tim Plante said:
by LEANNA FAULK
(WJAR) — A massive overnight fire destroyed a longtime hunting and social club in North Smithfield early Tuesday morning
reducing the Sayles Hill Rod and Gun Club to rubble
North Smithfield Fire Chief David Chartier said crews were called to Sayles Hill Road just before 1 a.m
by neighbors and Route 146 construction workers who spotted the flames
and we brought in seven tanker trucks,” Chartier said
noting that the lack of municipal water access delayed their efforts
so it took us some time to get tankers from neighboring communities and get a shuttle set up.”
Flames raged for hours before crews were able to knock down the fire and contain hot spots
the club has remained in the Connolly family for four generations
I was sick to my stomach,” said Kathy Connolly
He had been president for a long time and of course next was my brother.”
Kathy says the club wasn’t just a recreational space
“They had bricks that led up to the way in
The first one was my grandfather’s and then my father’s after it,” she said
“All the pictures on the walls of all the presidents
past presidents and families — priceless things — you can’t get back.”
She says the club also hosted events for people with special needs
Everybody took care of everybody,” Kathy said
and the rest of the community is going to come and help as well
because there are hundreds of people who have memories from being here.”
Kathy hopes members will come together to rebuild
The cause of the fire is under investigation
(WJAR) -- Scituate boys lacrosse used a strong second half to stay unbeaten and win 16-6 over rival North Smithfield
Both teams wore custom jerseys during the game for the first-ever Salute to Service game
where both teams honored their local first responders
Scituate's Head Coach commented on the importance of recognizing those who sacrifice so much: "My assistant coach is a Pawtucket firefighter
A number of our players have family who are first responders
and we decided to focus our Salute to Service on that and pay tribute to their family members."
The Rustic Drive-In will open on Friday for its 74th season
The North Smithfield staple offers a double billing on three screens and usually offers something for everyone
For its opening slate of movies the first round offers The Minecraft Movie
For the later round there is the new Captain America
NORTH SMITHFIELD, R.I. (WLNE) — Firefighters have been battling lingering hot spots and assessing the damage since a fire broke out at Sayles Hill Rod and Gun Club just before 1 a.m. Tuesday
First responders faced major obstacles in getting the fire under control as flames lit the North Smithfield sky early Tuesday
Fire crews arrived at the scene of the Sayles Hill Rod and Gun Club just after midnight
fighting a blaze that reduced the community staple building to dust and rubble
First responders said the biggest challenge was accessing water
so we had to call tankers from nearby communities
it took a while to set all that up,” said North Smithfield Fire Chief David Chartier
“During the course of operations we had a couple of propane tanks that the pressure relief valves let go.”
The building was empty at the time and no one was hurt
but club members said the loss is still devastating
but I know the membership that we have and the promise of the future,” said Club Treasurer Christopher Brooks
The 25-year member said they’d recently poured $75,000 into renovating the club’s kitchen
we’ll never get back because you only have so much insurance on a building,” said Brooks
Sayles Hill Rod and Gun Club has been incorporated since 1933
The fire Monday night was a devastating blow to our organization and our members
We respectfully ask you to allow us to work with the appropriate officials to determine what happened
members are left to mourn what’s been lost and look ahead to what’s next
Road closures remain in place along Sayles Hill Road and Prince Road near the Eddie Dowling Highway while officials continue their investigation
(WJAR) — Firefighters from several Rhode Island communities battled a large house fire in North Smithfield Sunday afternoon
North Smithfield's fire chief said they got the call at about 4 p.m
for the fire in a vacant house on Eddie Dowling Highway
When firefighters arrived they found heavy fire on the first floor
They called in extra companies because of the weather and a lack of fire hydrants
The cause of the fire was under investigation
(WLNE) — The Rhode Island Department of Transportation said two changes to the traffic patterns on Route 146 in North Smithfield will start on April 3 at 9 p.m
RIDOT said it will shift the northbound lanes on the flyover 12 feet to the right to free up space where a southbound lane will be put in place
This will leave one lane northbound on the flyover and one lane at ground level
with the existing northbound and southbound lanes at grade remaining in place
The second shift will occur on April 11 and will provide one lane southbound on the flyover
The final configuration of the traffic pattern will have one lane in each direction at the flyover and at ground level
RIDOT said the pattern changes will be in place until the end of the year
(WLNE) — The Rhode Island Department of Transportation said it will shift traffic on one lane southbound onto the new Route 146 flyover bridge at the Sayles Hill Road intersection Thursday evening
RIDOT said that Route 146 at the intersection of Sayles Hill Road will be narrowed with lane splits for construction
and the maximum vehicle width will be 10 feet
The other southbound travel lane will remain at ground level and the traffic signal will be adjusted to “ensure that the intersection functions at maximum efficiency.”
RIDOT said the new configuration will last until the end of the year
and the final configuration will be two lanes north and south over the flyover bridge
(WLNE) — The North Smithfield Police Department said the department arrested the third teenage suspect in connection to a vape shop break-in
police said three teenage suspects allegedly broke into the Juice Box Vape Shop and stole e-cigarettes and cash
police identified and arrested the third suspect
in which the other two had already been arrested and charged
The third suspect was charged in family court
The identities of the suspects have not been released due to their ages
(WJAR) — Multiple crews converged on a home in North Smithfield to battle a large fire Sunday morning
firefighters reported to the home on Greenville Road for reports of a structure fire
Crews called for a second alarm shortly after
The property has been vacant as people have been working on the home
there was significant damage from smoke and soot
as well as the extent of the damage to the structure
(WJAR) — The American Red Cross is helping those whom were affected by a house fire in North Smithfield on Monday
The fire happened at a residence on School Street
they are helping a family and an adult following the blaze
It typically provides victims with a recovery kit and a comfort kit with essentials
the Rhode Island Department of Transportation will close Route 146A south at Route 146 in North Smithfield to demolish the old Spring Brook Bridge
Route 146 northbound traffic will only travel through one lane of traffic
Route 146A southbound travelers will follow a detour using Smithfield Road and Greenville Road to get to Route 146
Drivers should plan for extra time if going through the construction zone
demolishing the old bridge will pave the way to widen the new bridge so Route 146 travelers on both sides can safely cross the bridge
Road work will continue this weekend until 6 a.m
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation announced it will begin lane shifts on Route 146 in North Smithfield on Thursday
Crews will be shifting the northbound lanes 12-feet to the right
The move will free up space where a southbound lane is set to be built
Officials said the existing northbound and southbound lanes will remain in place
The lane shifts are scheduled to begin at 9 p.m
A second lane shift is scheduled for April 11 to provide one lane southbound on the flyover
These changes will be in place until the end of the year.