Rhode Island City Seeks Reimbursement for Historic Mill Fire Costs

Woonsocket, R.I. is seeking reimbursement for part of the cost of fighting a massive fire that destroyed the historic Alice Mill building last week.

The Woonsocket Call reported that the costs include $38,660 in overtime, primarily for the fire department, as well as nearly $7,000 for police.

Mayor Leo Fontaine says the city will do a full inventory of its expenses and seek “some amount of compensation” from the building owner’s insurance company.

Steven Triedman of American Wood Pellet Co., which owns the building, says he is “reasonably certain” the insurance company wouldn’t pay anything to offset the city’s expenses.

Fontaine said last week that budget troubles have left Woonsocket facing possible bankruptcy.