PORTLAND, Maine — Sixteen people are without a home after a fire burned an apartment building on Sherman Street in Portland on Tuesday night.
The fire filled the neighborhood with smoke, creating a chaotic scene.
Firefighters said working smoke detectors and neighbors helped get everyone out OK
At least a handful of the building’s residents were inside, and some were asleep, when the fire broke out around 5:15 p.m. at 15 and 17 Sherman St.
Justin St. Germain lived in the building and was inside when someone visiting his neighbor banged on his door, yelling at him to get out. He thanked Donald Carpenter for keeping him from the flames.
“I couldn’t really see anything, I got another girl out,” Carpenter said.
The Red Cross is assisting the 16 displaced people.
The cause of this fire is still unknown.
Investigators will be back on scene Wednesday.