Maine Investigators Seek Cause of Fire that Destroyed 5 Buildings

A predawn fire Sunday that began in a vacant apartment building also destroyed four other structures in Rumford, Maine’s Virginia section.

No injuries were reported in the blaze that was spotted by a neighbor around 3 a.m.

Firefighters arrived to find the building engulfed by flames that had already spread to a second building. In all, the fire destroyed the apartment building, three homes and a barn.

Dozens of firefighters from Rumford, Mexico, Dixfield, Andover and Peru battled the fire for three hours before bringing it under control.

There was no power in the building where the fire began, Byam said. The state fire marshal’s office joined in the investigation.