No Official Cause of Park Ave. Blaze due to Conflicting Witness Accounts

The Cranston Fire Department's investigators are unable to determine what caused the three-alarm blaze that destroyed a three-story mixed use building on Park and Elmwood Avenues Aug. 31.

Investigators received conflicting witness statements and the powerful fire caused so much damage that any physical evidence at the scene was destroyed by the blaze.

"Due to the level of damage and the inconsistencies in witness statements, we ended up with no official cause [of the fire,]" said Dept. Chief Stephen MacIntosh. "We could not come up with anything else."

The inferno destroyed a business, , and multiple apartments. The building was demolished a couple days after the fire was extinguished.

Kelia Bravo of Phunky Stuff said the shop is searching for a new home close to its old one.

"We'll be open soon," she said. "We'll be back."

Firefighters battled the blaze for about two hours.

Also destroyed in the fire were multiple apartments and all the material possessions belonging to the inhabitants.

Two of the families had children who are students at Elementary School. The school community has rallied to help their neighbors and clothing, material belongings, gift cards and other aid has been collected at the school, located at 9 Beachmont Ave., Cranston.

If you're interested in helping them rebuild their lives, here are their sizes:

Boy (Grade 4) Size 14/16 
Girl (Grade 3) Size 16

Girl (Grade 1) Size 5/6 
Girl (Not yet school aged) Size 4

In addition, two adult females, (sizes unknown) the mothers of these students, have lost all of their material belongings as well.