Fire destroys drug den in Lewiston, scene of several police raids

Firefighters in Lewiston battled a fire that broke out Wednesday afternoon at a home on College Street that has been the site of several police raids on drug charges over the past nine months.

Lewiston Police issued a statement shortly before 4:30 p.m. Wednesday announcing that firefighters were dispatched to battle the building fire at 149 College Street.

The area of ​​149 College St. was closed to traffic while firefighters worked to extinguish the flames.

Neighbors near the home told WGME they heard an explosion-like sound around 3:30 p.m. and saw flames engulfing the house.

“The fire was contained to the garage area,” Lewiston Assistant Fire Chief Mark Anderson told the outlet. “There was a small addition to the main house, but that was quickly addressed and extinguished.”

Two firefighters reportedly suffered minor injuries when the building partially collapsed, but were able to escape the burning house.

“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 College Street home has been the site of four drug raids since December 2023, resulting in more than 20 arrests on drug charges and the seizure of large quantities of methamphetamine, crack cocaine and fentanyl.

According to police, the city had already closed off the use of the building before the fire broke out on Wednesday.

For more information on the Lewiston drug house raids, click here: