(Photo: David Sharp, AP)
A three-alarm fire in Portland Saturday morning killed five people and sent two to area hospitals. It is the deadliest fire in the city of Portland since 1963.
“I saw the porch of the Noyes Street property over here – it was totally engulfed, with an orange blaze. And I saw a young man jump off the porch,” said neighbor Carol Schiller.
Portland Firefighters responded to a fire at 20-24 Noyes Street at 7:17 a.m. after several neighbors called. Upon arrival, fire officials found an advanced fire at the duplex. It took firefighters about an hour and a half to get the fire under control.
Fire officials began searching the home and found two bodies on the third floor and two on the second floor. There was apparently a Halloween party at the home and Portland Police said there may still be people unaccounted for. Officials said they are working to identify the victims and notify their families.
Officials said seven tenants escaped the fire, many of whom were forced to jump from the second floor. One man suffered severe burns and doctors are treating him at Boston Hospital. Another was transported to Maine Medical Center and has since been released.
Fire Marsals are still investigating the cause of the fire and will be looking at possible code violations.
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SOURCE: WCSH-TV
