PORTLAND — A fire at a three-story apartment building Tuesday forced authorities to close portions of Walton Street and Ocean Avenue.

There were no reports of injuries from the fire at 15 Walton St.

The fire was reported shortly after 1:30 p.m. Firefighters arrived and found heavy fire on the second floor that extended into the third story and attic, said Fire Chief Fred LaMontagne.

He said late Tuesday that it was too soon to know exactly where the fire started, how it started or whether it was suspicious.

It took firefighters about an hour to get the fire under control, LaMontagne said.

The fire left a front corner of the building charred. LaMontagne said that although extensive repairs would be needed, the building remained structurally sound.

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Portions of Walton Street and Ocean Avenue were closed because of several large-diameter hoses that were used to put out the fire.

Duncan MacDougall, who owns the building and lives on the first floor, watched the scene from across the street. Firefighters had retrieved his laptop, which was drying in the driveway, and his mail.

“I’m just kind of taking it all in,” MacDougall said. “It’s surreal right now.”

MacDougall, a builder, had been working at a job nearby when a friend came and told him about the fire. MacDougall guessed that the repairs could cost $50,000 to $100,000.

 

Staff Writer Ann S. Kim can be contacted at 791-6383 or at: akim@pressherald.com

 


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