LEWISTON – At least a half-dozen people were routed from their homes and two were being examined for smoke inhalation after an early-morning fire today on Main Street.

Men and women fled their apartments in nightclothes when flames tore through a first-floor apartment at about 12:45 a.m.

“We’re fine. Everyone got out, and we’re fine,” said one woman, standing near an ambulance in shorts and a light shirt across from 555 Main St.

Six people huddled inside the ambulance for warmth as firefighters battled flames that shot from the first floor up to the roof.

One woman limped across the street in a bathrobe and no shoes. A shirtless man roamed from one side of the street to the other, until police put him in the back of a cruiser.

Early reports from police and medical personnel indicated a teenager was being examined for smoke inhalation. His condition was not available.

Police blocked off a long stretch of Main Street near the Veterans Bridge as crews fought the fire from the ground and from a ladder truck.

“The first floor was fully engulfed when we got here,” said police Cpl. Jeff Baril. “Everybody was already outside.”

There are three apartments in the two-story building that burned, police said. It was unknown how many people were living there.

Fire crews knocked down the worst of the flames roughly 15 minutes after they arrived. They remained at the scene putting out hot spots more than an hour after the fire was reported.

Lewiston fire investigators were called to the scene to begin an investigation into the cause of the fire. The American Red Cross was also expected to respond to help victims forced from their homes.

[email protected]