LEWISTON – City councilors meet this morning in an emergency session to weigh in on the fate of three downtown buildings gutted by fire.

All three- the Kora Temple, Cressey and Marco’s buildings – are standing so precariously that investigators searching for a cause of the Tuesday night fire have been ordered outside.

“It’s that dangerous,” City Administrator James Bennett said Thursday afternoon.

The council could order the immediate demolition of two or three of the Lisbon Street buildings.

The three have been the focus of city attention since the blaze ignited late Tuesday. While firefighters attacked the blaze, working to douse flames that burned in pockets, workers tried to restore power to adjacent buildings and diverted traffic around the downtown block.

As late as Thursday morning – 36 hours after the fire began – firefighters continued to douse the buildings with steady streams of water. By nightfall, the hoses were shut down and the last of the flames appeared to be out.

Fire crews were standing by, and police were posted on street corners to keep the curious at a safe distance.

No arrests have been made in the fire and no official cause has been given. Police have described the source of the fire as suspicious and have been searching for three teenagers reportedly seen running from the alley behind the burning buildings shortly before the blaze began.

Bennett said at least two of the buildings must be demolished. And though the owner, Greely Capital LLC, is cooperating, there’s worry that razing the buildings may be delayed.

Greely’s insurance company or the upcoming holiday weekend could hold up the demolition, Bennett said.

“We have to make sure that this is a speedy demolition,” he said. It’s unsafe for people to even walk past the buildings, he said.

If it wishes, the council could use a dangerous building ordinance already on the city books to begin the demolition itself and recoup costs with a lien on the property, Bennett said.

If the buildings fall on their own, the damage could be far worse. One possible problem could be damage to neighboring buildings, such as the former New England Furniture building, owned by developer Tom Platz.

An even greater hazard is the liability issue if someone is hurt while either walking or driving by the fire scene on lower Lisbon Street, Bennett said.

“Lisbon Street is not going to reopen until those brick facades are down,” he said.