Investigators Search for Cause of Fatal Rhode Island Fire

February 8, 2010

Fire investigators need to test samples from a Rhode Island home before announcing the cause of a blaze that killed five people, including a 7-month-old girl.

State Fire Marshal Jack Chartier says Saturday’s blaze in Warwick appears to be accidental. It’s among the worst in Rhode Island since a 2003 nightclub fire in neighboring West Warwick killed 100 people.

Chartier says investigators found one working smoke detector in the basement. Investigators had said earlier that they had not found any working smoke detectors.

Those killed included 21-year-old Amanda Villeneuve and her baby, Annabelle, 20-year-old Dan Janik and 24-year-old Nicholas Jillson. A 20-year-old woman who died hasn’t been publicly identified.

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