LEWISTON — Police officers evacuated a building at River Valley Village on Friday morning after a bedroom on the upper floor of the complex went up in flames.
One woman, the only occupant home when the fire started, suffered burns in the blaze at 65 Tall Pines Drive, which was reported at about 9:45 a.m. She was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. The extent of her injuries was unknown later Friday.
When Lewiston police arrived on scene, a fire official said, smoke and fire were seen coming from the second floor. Firefighters immediately began an aggressive interior attack while searching the building for additional occupants.
Firefighters were able to keep the fire contained to the second floor, a fire official said. No other units were damaged by fire. Lewiston fire crews had the blaze under control within an hour.
Unit No. 2 of the apartment complex sustained substantial fire damage on the second floor, according to Lewiston’s Assistant Fire Chief Mark Anderson. Residents of all other units were able to return to their homes Friday afternoon.
Damage to the structure and contents is initially estimated at $200,000.
A total of 18 Lewiston firefighters responded with the city’s three engine, ladder and quint, an apparatus that combines the equipment capabilities of a ladder truck and the water-pumping ability of a fire engine.
United Ambulance provided medical support with Auburn Fire Department acting as a rapid intervention team. An engine from Durham and ladder from Lisbon provided station coverage while Lewiston firefighters were operating on scene.
The fire is currently under investigation by the Office of State Fire Marshal to determine the cause.
Volunteers from the Red Cross responded and will assist occupants as needed, Anderson said.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
