Raging inferno ravages Woonsocket mill

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WPRI) - As Tuesday turned into Wednesday, crews battling a massive mill fire in Woonsocket began to get the upper hand on the inferno that forced neighborhood evacuations and left one firefighter in the hospital.

The intense inferno broke out at the famous "Alice Mills" located at 85 Fairmount Street around 7:30 p.m., and witnesses say it went up like a tinderbox.

"The dry floors, the dry wood, oil, that thing... you just watched it spread right down the roof line, unbelievable."

• History of the famous Alice Mills

By 11 p.m., white steam began to replace the choking black smoke that poured from the building throughout most of Tuesday night; signifying firefighters were beginning to make headway.

It was a much different picture earlier in the night, when bright orange and yellow flames created a scene that rivaled the most spectacular sunset. Plumes of smoke could be seen from miles away, "from as far away as Providence and smelled from as far away as the town of Lincoln," said one eyewitness.

The fire was so intense at one point, Live Pinpoint Doppler 12 Radar actually detected the smoke in the air, said Eyewitness News Meteorologist Tony Petrarca.

Eyewitness News crews on scene said they heard explosions and saw walls literally collapsing around them as the mill burned to the ground.

"It's the biggest fire that I have seen in my 15 years," said reporter Walt Buteau , during extended live coverage throughout the night on WPRI 12 and Fox Providence.

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One Woonsocket firefighter was injured and transported to the hospital. A witness told Eyewitness News the firefighter was struck by a wall from the complex. The extent of his injuries are unknown, but he was said to be conscious when he was transported, according to the witness.

Neighbors say the building has been vacant for about one year. Fire departments from across Rhode Island and throughout Massachusetts rushed to the scene to help battle the blaze.

Neighborhoods affected by the blaze

Crews evacuated an unknown number of homes from the Fairmount neighborhood - due to a possible danger.

By 11 p.m., there was word some of those residents were being let back into their homes.

Eyewitness News has learned the inferno damaged three nearby buildings.

"It's unbelievable. This one is really bad," said an eyewitness.

An eyewitness said it appears as though fire crews did a good job of wetting down nearby homes to prevent the fire from continuing to spread to neighborhood buildings.

Although many still have many concerns about the surrounding community.

"There are many houses behind it and there is also a bar on the street over here - so those houses aren't safe, the ashes, and the houses catching fire. They are going to burn, the trees are already burned," said one woman.

There were reportedly 500 to 1,000 people without power and water - most living on 3rd Street, right near the building.

There is no word on what caused the fire or whether or not arson is suspected.

Stay with WPRI.com and Eyewitness News for the latest details on this Breaking News Story. We'll have live reports from the scene Wednesday on Eyewitness News This Morning starting at 5 a.m.