RUMFORD – A Sunday night fire destroyed a garage on Waldo Street and prompted the evacuation of 16 families living in apartments in buildings on either side of the structure.

Rumford Fire Department Lt. Chris Bryant said the cause of the blaze was unknown. An investigator from the State Fire Marshal’s Office was expected to arrive late Sunday night.

The garage, and the building housing Red Hill Natural Food Store, is owned by Jim White of Mexico, Bryant said. The owner of the building housing Port to Port, also adjacent to the garage was not known late Sunday night.

The occupants of the 16 apartments were evacuated immediately when the fire was discovered, said Rumford Fire Chief John Woulfe. He said they would be staying with friends or family and would be allowed to return on Monday.

Some of the apartments, as well as the natural foods store, sustained minor damage. Some of the siding on the building housing the natural food store was also damaged.

The fire department asked Central Maine Power Co. to shut off electricity as soon as the blaze was reported.

About 35 firefighters and six fire trucks from the Rumford, Mexico, Dixfield and Peru fire departments responded to the 9:30 p.m. call. Med-Care Ambulance Service was on standby. Andover Fire Department covered the Rumford Fire Station.

No one was injured.

No estimates of damage were available late Sunday night.