By Mark LaFlamme

Staff Writer

AUBURN – A suspicious fire burned one family out of their home at 41 Dunn St. late Saturday.

A fire that began in a second-story bedroom sent the family scurrying for safety, but no one was hurt in the 10:45 p.m blaze.

Fire crews came from Auburn, Lewiston and surrounding towns when flames were reported ripping from windows of the 2 1/2-story building near the corner of Third Street in New Auburn.

Auburn Deputy fire Chief Mike Minkowsky said the fire started in a bedroom on the second floor near the rear of the building, but the exact cause was not known by early Sunday morning.

A police officer who was first on the scene was able to describe the conditions so fire crews could quickly knock down the flames and save most of the building and two nearby buildings, Minkowsky said.

He attributed the smooth communications to a meeting between fire and police officers on Friday to talk about using the same lingo in emergencies.

It was not immediately clear how many people were inside the apartment building, but it appeared only one family was living there, officials said.

Minkowsky said there were signs that led fire officials to label the fire as suspicious. An investigation will get under way as soon as it is safe for investigators to enter the building, he said.