LEWISTON — Lewiston fire and police departments and the State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating a fire that destroyed a warehouse on Holland Street early Wednesday morning.
Firefighters responded around 2:30 a.m. to a fire at the warehouse of Jay’s Small Engine and Appliance Service at 72 Holland St. According to the owner, Jay Rodrigue, the building housed products and trucks for his adjacent business at 70 Holland St. No one was in the building at the time and there were no injuries, according to officials.
By late in the day Wednesday, the blaze had not been classified as suspicious. However, the warehouse that burned is along a stretch of railroad line and trails that have been vexed by arson since the start of summer.
At the start of August, a stack of railroad ties was set on fire at the end of Libby Road, off Main Street near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge. Another stack of wooden ties was set on fire around the same time behind the Salvation Army on Main Street.
Before that, a string of woods fires plagued the walking trails behind River Valley Village apartments. Those fires remain under investigation.
Rodrigue said the warehouse that burned Wednesday was insured. He did not know the value of the contents in the building.
The adjacent business office was not damaged.
“Thanks to the absolutely fabulous fire department, we didn’t lose anything (in that building),” Rodrigue said.
The building was engulfed in flames when emergency personnel got to the scene at 2:30 a.m., according to Lewiston Fire Lt. Brad Dresser.
At about 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, Lt. Tim Falvey of the Boston and Maine Railroad Police was standing guard at the railroad tracks that run next to the building. He said the tracks had been shut down for a while because of the fire; they were later opened.
“They had to shut down for a period of time so (emergency personnel) could get the equipment and the people over here without causing any danger,” Falvey said.
Rodrique said that pending an investigation from the electric inspector, Jay’s Small Engine and Appliance Service will be back in business Thursday. He plans to rebuild the warehouse after the insurance claim is settled, he said.
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- An early-morning fire at Jay’s Small Engine & Appliance destroyed the company’s garage and warehouse on Holland Street in Lewiston on Wednesday.
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- Lewiston firefighter Reggie Poirier rolls a section of hose as he and other firefighters pack up their gear on Holland Street in Lewiston on Wednesday morning after an early-morning fire at Jay’s Small Engine & Appliance destroyed the company’s garage and warehouse.
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- An early-morning fire at Jay’s Small Engine & Appliance destroyed the company’s garage and warehouse on Holland Street in Lewiston on Wednesday.
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