LEWISTON — Fire forced residents of 215 Pine St. from their beds early this morning.

Six people were in the building when it caught fire, Lewiston Fire Inspector Paul Ouellette said. All escaped without injury, he said.

Smoke poured from the attic of the three-story tenement about 20 minutes after the fire was reported at 12:30 a.m. Later, flames briefly engulfed the roof.

The gray building near the intersection of Jefferson Street was evacuated as fire engulfed it. Several neighboring apartment buildings also were evacuated.

Electricity to the entire block was shut off. Firefighters were unsure whether the buildings closest to the fire scene would get their power back before daybreak.

Crowds of people, some told to leave their homes by firefighters, others simply unable to sleep with the commotion going on outside, gathered on the street near the building, watching billowing smoke soar into the air as firefighters tried to contain the fire. 

One man, who is ill, was reportedly taken to an ambulance. Witnesses said he was not injured in the fire.

As they watched, firefighters drenched the building’s roof with water from multiple hoses. Sheets of water poured off the building, and icicles formed on nearby powerlines. 

Firefighters from Lewiston, Auburn and Lisbon battled the blaze in the building which formerly housed the Champoux Insurance Agency.

Smoke from the fire could be seen from Auburn.

Several emergency vehicles were at the scene, including at least eight firetrucks. Firefighters did not know the cause of the fire or where it started, Ouellette said. An investigation will continue today.