Cause of New Breakers Fire: Electrical

By: Kali Lamparelli and Kimberly Osborne
Posted In: News

NEWPORT, R.I. – The fire that destroyed the New Breakers Apartments on Thursday has been deemed electrical according to State Fire Marshall David Curran and Newport Fire Marshall Chris

Kirwin.

The fire broke out in the New Breakers Apartments at 9:45 a.m. on Thursday. No one was seriously hurt, but two of the 20 students who live at New Breakers were taken to Newport Hospital for treatment of minor smoke inhalation.

It took about 65 firefighters to take on the fire in the snowy weather. Three firefighters were taken to Newport Hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Joggers and bikers out for their morning exercise slowed to a standstill and watched the fire and the crowds of students who lined the lawns. A woman, who declined to give her name, said “I was at First Beach and I saw the smoke.”

Students were returning from class when they saw the flames.

“I was walking back from Mercy Hall. You could see the flames shooting out of it,” said student Victoria Villee.

One young woman who lived in New Breakers was on her way back from class with a coffee in her hand, she sank with emotion as she saw all of her belongings lost to the flames.

Friends of those who lived in New Breakers watched the flames.

Maho Yamamoto said “I have Japanese friends and one French friend. I was on my way to class. I saw everyone run away from the house. My Japanese friend was supposed to go to Japan tomorrow, and his passport was burned. He is really upset.”

The fire continued to pour black clouds over Salve Regina University’s campus as students use their digital cameras to take pictures.

Kristine Hendrickson, director of communications at Salve, said that of the students involved were taken to Founders Hall where they met with Residential Life, Security, grief counselors and Sister M. Therese Antone among others to discuss the needs of these students.

Hendrickson said that many of the students were planning to leave for spring break and the parents of the others are on their way to campus and that the university has made sure that everyone has a place to stay tonight.

Hendrickson said that many of the students who lived in New Breakers lost a lot of their belongings in the fire. Fortunately, Hendrickson continued, all students who were home when the fire alarm sounded followed all of the recommended fire safety rules.

“Overall we are extremely proud of how the students dealt with the situation and how they have conducted themselves in the face of trauma,” Hendrickson said.