A sheet of plastic covers damage to the door of the Rumford fire station on North Broadway. Another bomb scarred a walkway at a nearby church.

The Providence Journal / Bill Murphy

EAST PROVIDENCE — A Molotov cocktail thrown through a window of the Rumford fire station sparked a brief fire late Tuesday night. A similar device was tossed on a nearby church’s walkway.

No one was hurt in either incident.

Fire Chief Joseph Klucznik confirmed that a pane at the Greenwood Avenue entrance of the fire house was broken around 11:04 p.m. when someone threw the makeshift firebomb at it.

The on-duty firefighters were in the kitchen when an overhead sprinkler went off near the entrance. The internal alarm also sounded.

Klucznik said the sprinkler put out the fire. He said there was limited fire damage to the entrance, as well as smoke and water damage to the surrounding area. The station, built in 2002, is the newest of the city’s fire houses.

Firefighters cleaned up the section after city police detectives and the state fire marshal’s office collected evidence. Witness statements from the shift’s firefighters are also being gathered.

Police Capt. Walter Barlow said a similar, but smaller device, was thrown onto a walkway in front of the Newman Congregational Church farther up North Broadway. He said the only damage was a charred section of the concrete.

Barlow said the department is following leads, but have not arrested any suspects. The Providence police and other state agencies have also offered to help in the investigation.

Klucznik said some fire engines were temporarily reassigned to ensure the city was adequately covered in case of an emergency Tuesday night and early yesterday morning. He said that some of the Rumford station’s equipment was tied up by the firebombing.

When asked if the station was back to normal, the chief said yesterday, “As normal as the Fire Department can be given all the media, adjusters, police officers and sprinkler system people around. We’re trying to get used to the hectic lifestyle.”

apina@projo.com