LEWISTON — Fire gutted an apartment house on Horton Street Tuesday afternoon and investigators say a candle caused the blaze.
Several people called 911 at about 4 p.m. to report flames shooting from the building at 118-120 Horton St.
Lewiston fire investigator Paul Ouellette was one of the first on the scene. He said the building was fully involved when he arrived.
“Fire was blowing right out the windows and doors,” he said. “It was going good.”
The fire started in a first-floor living room, fire officials said.
A first-floor tenant, who left a candle burning in the living room, was in the shower when the fire caught, Ouellette said. He got out safely.
A family of four on third floor also got out safely.
Ouellette estimated there was $100,000 damage.
Tenants are staying at a local hotel, thanks to the Red Cross.
One teenager said he was walking by on his way to basketball practice when he spotted the orange glow of fire from across the street. Soon after, he said, the windows shattered and dark smoke poured out.
Fire crews knocked down the flames within minutes of arriving, saving apartment houses on either side of the burned tenement.
According to city assessing records, the building is owned by Lewiston-based Blue Star MultiFamily LCC and is valued at $73,780.
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- Smoke, reflecting the red lights from fire engines, pours from windows at 120 Horton St. in Lewiston on Tuesday afternoon. Everyone in the apartment building was able to get out safely.
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- Auburn firefighters assist the Lewiston Fire Department at an apartment building at 120 Horton St. on Tuesday afternoon. According to police, all occupants were able to get out safely.
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- A Lewiston firefighter stands in the entryway of 120 Horton St. knocking down embers Tuesday. The building was destroyed but all occupants made it out safely, officials said.
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