OAKLAND — A fire Thursday afternoon in downtown Oakland left a business and apartments damaged and forced officials to close Main Street.
Chief David Coughlin of the Oakland Fire Department said the fire at 58 Main St. caused no injuries.
He said flames damaged the business, while the apartments above the business sustained smoke damage.
Coughlin said his department was notified of the fire shortly after noon. He said he requested assistance from fire departments in nearby communities because the fire occurred downtown, with several nearby buildings.
The fire began on the first floor, in a unit occupied by The Shop, a retail business, according to Coughlin. Flames were contained to the shop, while other parts of the building sustained smoke damage.
Officials shut down Main Street from the intersection with Oak Street to Oakland Pharmacy at 43 Main St.
The cause of the fire was not known Thursday afternoon, Coughlin said, adding an investigator from the Office of State Fire Marshal had been called in.
Maila Couture, who lives in an apartment on the second floor of the building, said she was working at Spoiled Salon & Bodywork on College Avenue in Waterville when she received a call about the fire.
Couture said she has a dog and a cat, so she had a friend head over to allow firefighters into the apartment. They were able to retrieve the animals, which were not harmed.
Couture said another apartment on the third floor of the building is unoccupied and being renovated.
“I have an amazing support system, so many friends and family. I’m super fortunate,” Couture said. “So my dog and my cat are fine, and my belongings we will figure out later.”
The owner of The Shop was identified as Krystal Pohorence, who appeared to operate another business out of the space, Poho’s Photos. Attempts to reach her by telephone were unsuccessful.
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