By: Ryan McLaughlin, BDN Staff

Posted Dec. 13, 2013, at 11:02 a.m. 
Last modified Dec. 13, 2013, at 12:33 p.m.

OLD TOWN, Maine — A fire heavily damaged an apartment inside a four-unit building on Main Street on Friday morning.

Old Town fire Chief Steve O’Malley said at the scene crews were dispatched to 881 Main St. shortly after 10 a.m.

“We could see the smoke was rolling across toward the mill,” said O’Malley, who added that flames were shooting up the side of the building.

Firefighters from Old Town, Bangor, Orono and Milford were able to knock down the blaze quickly, and only two residents were home at the time, O’Malley said.

It was unclear if the residents were leasing the apartment that was on fire, the chief said. One cat perished in the fire and another was saved.

O’Malley said the fire started in the kitchen and spread to the second floor. The chief said the first floor of the unit is likely gutted but the second floor could be salvageable.

A cause has yet to be determined, and O’Malley said his department will launch an investigation. He’s also not sure if the apartments in the building are rented by University of Maine students.

O’Malley declined to name the owner of the building.