LEWISTON – Public safety officials are investigating what police Lt. Tom Avery terms “a suspicious fire” that destroyed goods destined for needy people.

The smoky fire in a rear storage area outside the Salvation Army store off Main Street broke out at 11:27 a.m. Sunday. A sofa, mattress and other items contained in the storage area were destroyed.

Firefighters spent an hour or longer containing then quelling the blaze and cleaning up.

Main Street was closed for about an hour while traffic was rerouted away from the fire scene, Avery said.

Avery said police have joined fire inspectors in investigating the fire’s cause, suspected to be arson.