AUGUSTA — Fire investigators are unlikely ever to know what sparked a Hospital Street blaze last week that left several people homeless.

Sgt. Kenneth Grimes of the State Fire Marshal’s Office said Monday that severe damage in the area of the fire prevented investigators from determining how or where the fire started.

“It was an unwitnessed event, and there was so much destruction on the back side of the building that we can’t quite pinpoint it,” he said.

The investigation is closed pending additional information, Grimes said.

The apartment building at 208 Hospital Street was badly damaged by the fire, which was reported around 2:45 p.m. Friday. Grimes said it will be up to the insurance company and the building owner, Hallowell resident William Bowden, to decide whether it can be salvaged. The worst damage was isolated in the back of the building.

“The rest of the building has only moderate damage, so it’s entirely possible it could be renovated,” Grimes said.

The blaze left three families homeless, but there were no injuries.

Augusta Fire Department Battalion Chief Ed Charles said Friday that the fire may have started several minutes before it was reported and it was roaring when firefighters arrived. Flames moved easily through the walls, floors and attic.

Bowden said Friday that he bought the building four years ago and had put on a new roof and installed new windows. Three of the four units were occupied. Bowden had planned to renovate the fourth apartment so he and his wife could move in.

Bowden said residents in all three occupied units were home when the fire started.

Grimes said the fire obviously started on the back of the building.

“We believe it was on the outside, on one of the porches, but we’re not completely sure,” he said.

Staff writer Susan McMillan contributed to this report.

Craig Crosby — 621-5642

ccrosby@centralmaine.com

 

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