Fire at the scene of several drug arrests leads to road closure in Lewiston

LEWISTON (WGME) – A fire broke out in a Lewiston home on Wednesday.

It started with a loud bang and ended with damage to the house and the destruction of a garage.

This house has been the scene of numerous drug raids in the past few months alone, and the city even cordoned it off.

The fire caused so much destruction that emergency services even had to demolish the house's garage.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but neighbors say it started with a loud bang on Wednesday afternoon.

“We heard an explosion,” said neighbor Margaret. “I saw the fire truck come down and then I went outside and saw smoke.”

Neighbors said they heard an explosion-like sound around 3:30 p.m. After hearing the explosion, they saw flames at 149 College Street.

“It was all black from the smoke and it was so scary,” said neighbor Patty Runci.

Four minutes later, the Lewiston Fire Department arrived on the scene to tear it down.

“The fire was contained to the garage area,” said Mark Anderson, Lewiston's deputy fire chief. “There was a small addition to the main house, but that was quickly repaired and extinguished.”

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries when the burning building partially collapsed.

“There was a partial collapse and one got stuck and the other was hanging on a ladder, but both came out unharmed, we were able to rescue everyone,” Anderson said.

The deputy fire chief said it was not safe to be in the house Wednesday night, but police said the city had already declared the building off-limits.

149 College Street has seen four drug raids and more than 20 arrests in the past nine months. Police say they have seized meth, fentanyl and crack cocaine from the home.

“I wasn't surprised after what I heard on the news,” Margaret said. “And if it helps, keep out the people who don't belong there.”

CBS13 spoke to several people who say they are living in the house even though it is slated for demolition.

They did not want to speak on camera, but said that not only did everyone get out, but all the cats in the building were safe.