PORTLAND —  A fire at 123 Sherman St. is out after firefighters rescued several residents this afternoon.

Fire officials declined to provide any details at the scene, where several fire and rescue vehicles filled the downtown street.

The fire was reported around 2 p.m. and appeared to be out by 2:30 p.m.

Several residents escaped through windows and some children were lowered from the first and second floors to neighbors waiting below.

One woman said she waited 10 minutes while hanging by her hands from a second-floor window sill before firefighters were able to lower her to safety.

Another woman was trapped in her third-floor bedroom before firefighters arrived and helped her down on a ladder.