Residents escape overnight fire in Lewiston apartment building

LEWISTON — Fire officials say it appears as if everyone has escaped safely from a three-alarm apartment building fire in Lewiston. The fire in the 32 Oxford St. building — near the Lewiston House of Pizza — was reported Friday morning. The city has closed Lincoln Street from Cedar Street to Main Street while crews try to restore the traffic lights out because of the fire. Fire Chief Paul Leclaire tells WMTW-TV the sub-freezing temperatures made battling the blaze difficult, but the most important thing is that there are no reported injuries. Crews from a number of area departments responded. The cause remains under investigation. Three separate blazes at city apartment buildings last spring left more than 200 people homeless. Two juveniles and two men have been charged in connection with those fires.