PATTEN, ME — The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a fire that destroyed a commercial building and damaged a nearby apartment building early Wednesday.
The Patten Fire Department responded to 6 Main Street at 4:37 a.m. for a report of a commercial building fire.
When firefighters arrived, the Outback Garage was fully involved in flames.
Two tenants who lived in an apartment above the garage escaped safely.
The building is considered a total loss.
The fire spread to a nearby apartment building, causing significant damage and displacing eight tenants.
Investigators determined the fire originated toward the rear of the garage.
The use of an excavator hindered investigators’ ability to determine the cause of the fire, however a woodstove cannot be ruled out as a possible cause.
The Patten Fire Department was assisted by the Island Falls Fire Department, Oakfield Fire Department, Sherman Fire Department, Stacyville Fire Department, Mt. Chase Fire Department, Medway Fire Department, Houlton Fire Department, Island Falls Ambulance and Patten Ambulance.
