Four injured in Burrillville house fire

BURRILLVILLE, R.I. (WPRI) - Fire officials say a woman smoking in bed started an early morning fire in Pascoag that sent four people to the hospital Wednesday.

The fire broke out around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday inside the multi-family home on Grove Street. Once crews arrived, they found it was difficult to bring the flames under control, according to Pascoag Fire Chief John DeFusco.

"Typical balloon construction was in the walls. The house was cut up quite a bit, so the fire was tough to get to," DeFusco said.

In order to help fight the flames, additional help was called in from Burrillville and Chepachet, and from Uxbridge and Douglas in Massachusetts.

The fire chief on scene said an elderly woman, who was on oxygen, fell asleep while smoking in bed. She and another elderly man were taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. Two firefighters were also taken to the hospital for heat exhaustion.

The house is likely a total loss, the DeFusco said.

The Rhode Island Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause of the fire.