Fire breaks out at Johnston business

JOHNSTON, R.I. (WJAR) — A large fire broke out Thursday morning at a business in Johnston.

Firefighters responded to 14 Green Hill Road at about 7:30 a.m. The street runs between Shun Pike and Plainfield Pike.

The smoke and flames were seen from miles away, with people who live and work in the area stopping to stare.

“There were some types of explosions going on,” said Eric Matteson, who works nearby. “You feel bad for the people that own it. You know, it’s devastating.”No additional details were immediately available.

Authorities said both The Cucino Corporation and Tartaglia Trucking were housed in the lot. The building that used to be there was torn down.

“I can give you perspective -- there are garage doors on the front of the building. There was fire from the bottom to the top in multiple doors,” Chief Peter Lamb of the Johnston Fire Department said.

Trucking equipment surrounding the area of the fire made getting water to the scene a major challenge for firefighters.

“The hose that’s out here behind me that you can probably see is about 3,000 feet long,” Lamb said. “We have several pumpers in line trying to boost the pressure to us.”

No injuries were reported, but the building was destroyed.

A cause of the fire remains under investigation.