LEWISTON – A fire that damaged a portion of the Ravens Nest on Park Street late Monday was set from the outside, fire officials said.

Two men riding their bikes near the corner of Park and Main streets at about 9 p.m. reported seeing flames near the building and reported the small blaze.

“It looked like just a stick on fire at first,” said 21-year-old Charles Guignard. “But I guess the fire was inside, too.”

Guignard and his friend Ryan Gagnon, 21, hailed a police officer. Firefighters were sent to the scene and began smashing down the door on the Park Street side.

“When they kicked down the door, smoke started pouring out,” Gagnon said.

The Ravens Nest, a business that performs Tarot and psychic readings as well as other services, is located on Park Street at the rear of WCSH 6 at 189 Main St.

Officials said part of a WCSH door near the fire scene was damaged, but the rest of the news building was spared.

Firefighters initially had trouble entering the building through a second door located inside the building.

One firefighter was hoisted up onto a fire escape at the rear of the building and entered in that manner. He reported the building was clear of fire.

As more fire and police crews responded, the busy intersection at Park and Main streets became quickly clogged. The intersection was cleared after roughly 30 minutes.

Fire inspector Paul Ouellette was still examining the damaged portion of the Ravens Nest late Monday night. Because the blaze was believed to have been set, police also remained at the scene as part of the on-going investigation.

The Ravens Nest has been in business at that location for about a month. The owner, a woman who lives in Sabattus, was called to the scene. Her name was not immediately available late Monday.

Ouellette estimated damage to the building at approximately $500.

mlaflamme@sunjournal.com

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