Residents return home after fume-fire

HOPKINTON, R.I. (WPRI) - Things are returning to normal at the Canonchet Cliffs Elderly Apartment Complex in Hopkinton after a plastic radio sparked a dangerous fire inside a unit.

More than two dozen people, including many firefighters, were rushed to the hospital after dangerous levels of hydrogen cyanide were detected.

A neighbor who called 911 when the fire started, spoke to Eyewitness News about what happened.

"My neighbor opened her door and suddenly all of this terrible smelling smoke came out, and she said the fire was in her room," recalls Carolyn Denny.

Denny said she dialed 911 after her neighbor came running from her room.

Monday's small fire was caused when a resident turned on her oven after forgetting she left a transistor radio inside.

About 50 people had to be evacuated from the complex.

About eight residents and three emergency medical workers also were taken to hospitals for treatment.

"They sent an ambulance to take me to the hospital. You know, to see if I had inhaled any of the toxic smoke. 'Cause, I inhaled a lot of it," recalls Denny.

The fire chief told Eyewitness News everyone's blood tests did return back negative for hydrogen cyanide. However, many residents spent the night elsewhere out of safety concerns.

The fire chief also said not all of the firefighters had on the proper breathing gear because their first concern was to go in and save the elderly residents.

All of the firefighters have been released, except for one who had an irregular heartbeat. He's expected to be released sometime Tuesday.