Crime & Safety
Off-Duty Firefighter Escapes Shed Explosion with Singed Legs
The fire broke out around 5:30 p.m. just after John Laroche put away his lawnmower.
John Laroche of Cranston is lucky to have just singed shins after an explosion in his garden shed next to his Baldino Drive home tonight.
The Cranston homeowner and Central Falls firefighter was just putting away his lawnmower at 5:30 p.m. or so when it just "blew up."
Cranston Firefighters rushed to the scene at 13 Baldino Drive minutes after the call and soon made quick work of the shed, breaking off pieces and prying open the roof to get at the flames.
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Laroche said he was putting away his equipment when he started to feel heat around his legs. Suddenly, there were flames.
"By the time I got outside of the shed, the whole thing was. . ." Laroche said, paused, and then opened his eyes wide. "You don't expect it to happen to yourself when you do this every day for a job."
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Baldino Drive was closed for a time as firefighters worked the scene.
No word yet on what caused the fire.
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