LEWISTON – Ash and soot felt like tiny rain drops as pieces of charred building mixed with fire-fighting water fell on spectators gathered at the corner of Lisbon and Pine streets on Tuesday night.

For the second time in 30 months, the building that once housed Marco’s Italian restaurant went up in flames.

Despite the late hour, crowds assembled at nearby street corners. At one point, as many as 200 people craned their necks and weathered the subfreezing temperatures to watch firefighters battle flames that shot from the rooftops.

On the corner of Lisbon and Ash streets, more people gathered, many squawking on two-way radios, trying to figure out exactly what was burning.

On the back side of the buildings, a fire truck wedged itself in Canal Street Alley and hoisted a ladder toward the flames. As late as midnight, people continued to gather on Canal Street as they left the Bates Mill Complex and surrounding apartments and businesses.

Back on Pine Street, one couple in particular paid very close attention.

“We have a cat in that building there,” said Debbie Girouard of Lewiston as she pointed to a smaller, brick-faced building three doors down from the old Marco’s.

“He’s an office cat.”

Girouard and her husband, Skip, who own Dube’s Flower Shop at 195 Lisbon St., peered anxiously around the corner as they stood apart from the larger crowd.

“They should have taken care of the building the last time it burned,” Debbie said.

“They should have taken it down,” Skip said.

The couple went to Lewiston police officer Corey Jacques and asked if they could get into their building.

Jacques assured the couple that they would be allowed in if the fire posed any imminent danger to their belongings, which officials at the time did not believe it would.

Skip also had his mind on his car, which he keeps parked in the city parking garage on Canal Street, abutting the back side of the Lisbon Street businesses. “It’s brand-new,” Skip said. “I think I want to go move my car.”

The scene conjured up images of July 7, 2005, for Debbie.

“I think this one is worse,” Debbie said. “It doesn’t look like they have it under control.”