PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER Maine) — Crews responded Tuesday afternoon to two fires in Portland's West Bayside and Libbytown neighborhoods.
Firefighters had the latter of the two blazes, located at 274 Valley St. in the area of Maine Medical Center, contained and put out sometime before 5:45 p.m.
The fire broke out at a three-story apartment building behind Pizza Villa.
James Wholey, a neighbor of the property, saw smoke and called for help.
"People then came out from the parking lot over here and began running into the house," Wholey said. "They were trying to get people out of the house."
Traffic was snarled at Congress and St. John streets as the fire response and rush hour inopportunely met.
The American Red Cross said Tuesday night it would be working with 10 people displaced by the multi-family home fire on Valley Street to ensure they have food, a place to sleep and other essentials.
Investigators on Wednesday said they were unable to establish enough evidence concluding why the fire started; its official cause was declared undetermined. They said the origin was just outside the building on a second-floor balcony.
Neighbors who called 911 reported seeing fire on the exterior rear porches prior to the fire department's arrival.
No residents were injured.
An "all hands" fire earlier in the afternoon on Alder Street, located just off Forest Avenue, was put out shortly before 3:15 p.m., according to the Portland Press Herald. Firefighters responded to it at about 2:45 p.m.
Smoke from that fire could be seen from several points in the city.
Portland Fire Department tweeted saying the fire was at 41 Alder Street.
Investigators on Wednesday determined the cause to be accidental due to improperly discarded smoking materials disposed of in a recycling bin that was against the two-family apartment.
"This is the third building fire within 10 days that has started outside of a structure, eventually spreading inside the building," said Portland Fire Capt. John Brennan. "While smoke detectors do a great job of preventing major fires inside residential structures, there’s less of a warning system on the exterior of structures. With the arrival of nicer weather, and people spending more time outside, we’d like to remind people to be extra cautious when using smoking materials outside."
Safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):
• If you smoke, smoke outside and away from the building
• Use deep, non-combustible, wide ashtrays on a sturdy table
• Before you throw out butts and ashes, make sure they are out, and dousing in water or sand is the best way to do that
• Check under furniture cushions and in other places people smoke for cigarette butts that may have fallen out of sight
• Never smoke in a home where oxygen is being used
• If you smoke, choose fire-safe cigarettes. They are less likely to cause fires
• To prevent a deadly cigarette fire, you have to be alert. You won't be if you are sleepy, have been drinking, or have taken medicine or other drugs
• Keep matches and lighters up high, out of children's sight and reach