LEWISTON – A Bartlett Street apartment caught fire Tuesday, ruining a first-floor unit and forcing people living there to flee.
Police and fire officials say they were called to the three-story apartment building at 243 Bartlett St. about 12:40 p.m. The first-floor apartment was in flames, and the fire was spreading to the second floor.
A man helped an elderly woman out of the first floor unit while the remaining five apartments were evacuated. The man and the woman were taken to the hospital to be checked for smoke inhalation. Both were fine and were released, fire officials said.
The fire caused about $50,000 in damage and ruined the first floor apartment, making it unlivable. Residents of the other units were allowed to return home.
Officials say the fire started in the first-floor apartment by an overloaded electrical cord. The cord sparked a fire, which quickly spread to nearby furniture.
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