Rhode Island
Arson warning put out by federal agents to Massachusetts and Rhode Island churches after recent fires
FRANKLIN – Churches in southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island are on high alert after federal agents have put out an arson warning to places of worship.
Rising arson incidents
This weekend, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is urging increased vigilance for houses of worship amid rising arson incidents.
“In repairing our church, everything is locked up,” said Father Bob Poitras of St. Mary’s Church in Franklin. Late last month, a fire was set inside the church’s sanctuary and while no one was hurt, there was extensive smoke damage. “Unfortunately, the main church though suffered heavy smoke damage and that’s going to be over $1 million in repair.”
The fire marshal said the fire at St. Mary’s was a case of arson and there is now a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of whoever intentionally set the fire.
Increased security
The ATF is also warning houses of worship in Franklin, Kingston and Woonsocket, Rhode Island to enhance surveillance and security systems, restrict facility access and raise awareness among parishioners.
“I think very important, it’s something we had to obviously learn and go through the hard way but those warnings of securing your property, cameras, those kind of things, I’ve now come to see how important each and every part of those are,” said Poitras. He said church officials are in the process of making all the necessary changes and update protocols so everyone feels safe.
“Unfortunately, like moments we’re having this week, with baptisms and all kinds of important services going on in between, we have to lock everything down in between, we don’t leave things open anymore throughout the week,” said Poitras. “I think we took for granted in this parish, how comfortable our community is and how wonderful our community is. But it only takes that one issue, that one mistake and the next thing you know, you’re hurt.”
The Rhode Island Blood Center is asking for donations after the fatal shooting at Brown University on Saturday.
Several donor centers have extended hours available as they respond to the emergency.
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Anyone interested can sign up for an appointment on the organization’s website.
PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Blood Center’s blood supply was low before Saturday’s mass shooting at Brown University, and it is immediately stepping up blood drives to meet the need, an official said Sunday.
“We were definitely dealing with some issues with inventory going into the incident,” Executive Director of Blood Operations Nicole Pineault said.
The supply was especially low for Type 0 positive and negative, which are often needed for mass casualty incidents, she said. Type 0 negative is considered the “universal” red blood donor, because it can be safely given to patients of any blood type.
Pineault attributed the low supply to weather, illness, and the lingering effects of the pandemic. With more people working from home, blood drives at office buildings are smaller, and young people — including college students — are not donating blood at the same rate as they did in the past, she said.
“There are a lot challenges,” she said.
But people can help by donating blood this week, Pineault said, suggesting they go to ribc.org or contact the Rhode Island Blood Center at (401) 453-8383 or (800) 283-8385.
The donor room at 405 Promenade St. in Providence is open seven days a week, Pineault said. Blood drives were already scheduled for this week at South Street Landing in Providence and at Brown Physicians, and the blood center is looking to add more blood drives in the Providence area this week, she said.
“It breaks my heart,” Pineault said of the shooting. “It’s a terrible tragedy. We run blood dives regularly on the Brown campus. Our heart goes out to all of the victims and the staff. We want to work with them to get the victims what they need.”
She said she cannot recall a similar mass shooting in Rhode Island.
“In moments of tragedy, it’s a reminder to the community how important the blood supply really is,” Pineault said. “It’s an easy way to give back, to help your neighbors, and be ready in unfortunate situations like this.”
The Rhode Island Blood Center has donor centers in Providence, Warwick, Middletown, Narragansett, and Woonsocket, and it has mobile blood drives, she noted.
On Sunday, the center’s website said “Donors urgently needed. Hours extended at some donor centers, 12/14.”
Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at edward.fitzpatrick@globe.com. Follow him @FitzProv.
Authorities said two people were killed and eight more were injured in a mass shooting at Brown University, an Ivy League school in Rhode Island. Authorities said students were on campus for the second day of final exams.
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