LEWISTON — Two days after 75 people were burned out of their downtown homes, the legacy of the massive fire remained.

On Blake Street, a block-wide heap of blackened rubble. Around the corner on Pine Street, a gutted tenement still stood, with charred windows staring out like black eyes.

Fire officials want it gone sooner rather than later.

“It’s very traumatic for people,” said Lewiston fire Chief Paul LeClair. “It’s scary. We’d like to get it behind us so the community can move forward.”

By Wednesday afternoon, fire and police were still investigating the cause of the blaze, which remained elusive.

LeClair said his department was working out a time frame with the owner of the apartment house at 82 Pine St. to take down the building. Within the next week, the chief said, they should know more.

“It’s not going to remain standing,” he said.

At about 4 p.m. Wednesday, the last of the tenants was hauling out whatever remained of his possessions.

“There isn’t much to get,” that tenant said.

As he poked through his burned, wet and smoke-damaged stuff, another man was downstairs, preparing to board up the door. Every move they made was watched by small knots of onlookers, groups of the curious who have been there since the fire roared into existence Monday afternoon.

“It was like a parade out there for a while,” LeClair said. “That’s another reason we want to take that building down.”

Lewiston fire Investigator Paul Ouellette was searching for clues to what started the blaze. He was assisted by the State Fire Marshal’s Office and Lewiston police detectives.

As they sifted through the rubble, investigators were also sifting through rumors that have persisted since the fire was reported. One rumor that remained afloat was that a mishap in a methamphetamine lab may have started the blaze. That rumor was bolstered by reports that an explosion was heard just before flames tore through three buildings.

Others speculated that a barbecue grill on a porch might be to blame. Investigators said they are looking into all possible causes, but cautioned that pinning it down is likely to be a long process.

mlaflamme@sunjournal.com

More and more people and businesses Wednesday were finding ways to help those displaced by the fires earlier in the week.

Donation buckets appeared in a number of local stores and shops, including Forage on Lisbon Street in Lewiston and Big Lots in Auburn.

Hudson Bus Lines will hold a collection between 9 a.m and 1 p.m. Sunday to help round up goods for the victims. It’s called “Stuff the Bus” and it will feature buses at Shaw’s supermarkets in Lewiston and Auburn and at Walmart. People are invited to bring nonperishable items, including dry goods, clothes, toys and cash and stuff them into one of the buses.

Clothes and light goods (dishes, pots and pans, flatware, small appliances) can also be dropped off at the YWCA at 130 East Ave. in Lewiston during daytime operating hours.

Checks should be made payable to the American Red Cross and can be mailed or hand-delivered to the Red Cross Office at 1180 Lisbon St., Lewiston, ME 04240 or can be made online at www.redcross.org/me.