Five people in Richmond were displaced overnight after a fire broke out inside a Front Street apartment building.

Richmond Fire Chief Matt Roberge said nobody was injured in the fire, but two people were taken to the hospital. One person had a medical condition and another was taken to be checked as a precaution.

The cause of the fire, which started in a mattress, has not yet been determined by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Five people live in the two-story, four-unit apartment building at 381 Front St., Roberge said. Firefighters helped one person from the building. The other tenants were able to get out without assistance, Roberge said.

All the tenants had to find somewhere else to stay Sunday night because power was cut to the building, Roberge said. All but one tenant, who lives in the apartment where the fire occurred, should be able to return to their homes soon.

He said the fire, which broke out on a mattress inside a second floor apartment, caused heavy smoke damage in the bedroom and light smoke damage to the rest of the building. An apartment below sustained water damage.

Roberge said Gardiner-based C.B. Mattson manages the building, which is part of a larger complex of apartment buildings, but he was unsure whether it is insured.

According to Richmond tax records, Charles Mattson owns the building, which was built in 1985.

The fire was reported around 7:50 p.m. Sunday. Roberge said arriving firefighters were greeted by heavy smoke on the second floor where the fire originated. Firefighters from Dresden, Bowdoinham and Bowdoin were called to help Richmond crews.

“We quickly found the fire and put it out,” Roberge said.

He said it took about 40 minutes to control the fire.

“The slowness was due to heavy smoke,” Roberge said. “Getting it out of the building was a challenge.”

An investigator from the State Fire Marshal’s Office was called to determine how the fire started. Roberge said that investigation is ongoing. A call to the fire marshal’s office seeking comment was not returned.

Front Street was closed briefly as crews battled the fire.

Craig Crosby — 621-5642

ccrosby@centralmaine.com

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