AUBURN — Eleven people were burned out of their home Friday afternoon after fire ripped through an apartment house at the former site of Central Maine Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates.
When the first crews from Auburn and Lewiston arrived about 12:15 p.m., they found smoke pouring out of both sides of the rambling, two-story building with attached garage. Fire was found on every floor, officials said, including the basement.
There were no reported injuries. Firefighters rescued a pair of cats from the building, which houses 11 people living in three apartments. All occupants were out of the building when firefighters arrived, a fire official said.
Neighbors said the building used to house a dentist office but it had since been converted into apartments. The Central Maine Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates sign still stands in front of the building.
Damage from fire, smoke and water to the apartment house, which stands on a busy stretch of Center Street near East Dartmouth Street, was described as “significant.” It was not immediately known when residents will be able to return to their homes.
Roughly an hour after fire crews arrived, the blaze was declared knocked down. Firefighters remained at the scene later Friday, mopping up and beginning an investigation into the cause of the fire.
Auburn fire crews requested help from the State Fire Marshal’s Office, which sent an investigator to the scene later Friday afternoon.
Early reports were that the blaze started in the basement and quickly moved into the upper floors, but the origin of the fire was still being investigated.
Firehouse Subs, a restaurant across the street from the fire scene, sent lunch for the fire crews.
Firefighters from Mechanic Falls, Poland and New Gloucester responded to provide coverage at the Auburn Central Fire Station.
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