January 11, 2026 — In the early morning hours, the Jamestown Volunteer Fire Department responded as mutual aid to a significant building fire in the City of Newport, demonstrating strong regional cooperation and sustained firefighting efforts. At approximately 03:01 hours, Ladder 1 was initially dispatched to Newport for station coverage following a fire alarm activation. While en route, Ladder 1 was reassigned to an active building fire on 2nd Street, where conditions had escalated and additional resources were requested.

Upon arrival, Jamestown crews integrated seamlessly with Newport Fire Department and multiple mutual aid companies, assisting with critical fireground operations including fire suppression, ventilation, and overhaul. The incident was quickly upgraded to a second-alarm response, bringing additional departments from Jamestown, Middletown, Portsmouth, North Kingstown, and surrounding communities to the scene. Firefighters operated for approximately five hours under challenging nighttime conditions before Ladder 1 was released and returned to service. The coordinated response highlighted the professionalism, endurance, and teamwork of all agencies involved.