AUBURN, Maine — More than 20 people are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross after a fire broke out at an apartment building in Auburn Tuesday morning.
At approximately 7 a.m., Auburn fire crews were called to the area of Highland Avenue for reported smoke and fire coming from the roof of a large building, according to a news release from the Auburn Fire Department. Upon their arrival, crews worked to remove the remaining tenants from the building while fire and smoke were found in the third-floor attic space of the five-unit building, according to the department.
The fire was reportedly contained within several minutes, and damages to the building were isolated to the third-floor attic space. Other areas of the building sustained water damage, the fire department said.
More than 20 tenants living in the building are now being assisted by the American Red Cross, which is coordinating assistance by using the Auburn Senior Community Center.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and is being investigated by the City of Auburn Fire Investigation Team.
"Although the Fire Department has been made aware that a portion of the building was experiencing heating troubles (those tenants were using alternative heating equipment while waiting for repairs), the cause of the fire remains undetermined at this time," the fire department said in the release.
The Lewiston Fire Department, Auburn Police Department, Auburn Public Works, Central Maine Power, and the Auburn Water/Sewer Districts assisted at the scene.
