LEWISTON – A 56-year-old man was in critical condition at a Boston hospital Sunday night after being burned when a fire broke out in his College Street apartment.

Paul St. Amand sustained severe burns while trying to put the fire out early Sunday morning, according to a news release from the Maine Department of Public Safety.

“St. Amand was found in a hallway outside of his apartment” by tenants of surrounding apartments who were awakened by smoke alarms, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland said.

Firefighters arrived at 34 College St. shortly after 3 a.m. and quickly worked to contain the fire to St. Amand’s apartment, Lewiston fire Capt. Roger Beaudoin said.

“The other two units of the multi-family building still suffered smoke and water damage,” Beaudoin said. “Three other tenants had to be relocated.”

Investigators have determined that the fire likely started in the bathroom, where a basket of clothes was ignited by a nearby electric heater, the release stated.

St. Amand was taken to Central Maine Medical Center and then moved to Massachusetts General Hospital by helicopter.

There were no other injuries to tenants or firefighters.

According to Beaudoin, damage to the building is estimated at $25,000.

The property owners, the Solis Group, are insured.