OAKLAND — A fire late Wednesday damaged a four-unit apartment building on Oak Street and sent one person to the hospital.

The fire at 46 Oak St. was reported at 8:12 p.m. and firefighters from several towns were still at the scene at 9:45 p.m.

Oakland fire Chief David Coughlin said at the scene that the fire originated on the second floor of the building, though he did not know the cause, and at least one tenant was taken by Delta Ambulance to Thayer Center for Health in Waterville with injuries not believed to be serious. He did not know whether the person was a man or woman or what the injuries were.

“We’re not sure exactly how many people live in the building but everybody’s been accounted for so everybody’s out,” Coughlin said.

Firefighters from eight communities battled a blaze at an apartment in Oakland on Wednesday night. The Oakland fire chief said one person was sent to the hospital.

At about 9 p.m., he said the fire was out and firefighters were doing overhaul work.

About 40 firefighters from Oakland, Belgrade, Sidney, Rome, Smithfield, Winslow, Fairfield and Waterville were at the scene, as were Delta Ambulance and Oakland police. Central Maine Power Co. turned off power to the apartment building, which appeared to be two buildings that are connected — a beige building with green shutters across Oak Street from The Korner Store, and a blue building on the High Street side.

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Coughlin said the state fire marshal’s office had been notified of the fire, to which firefighters responded within minutes. Winslow’s Rapid Response Team was on scene in case it was needed, Coughlin said.

He said it was too early to determine the extent of damage to the building.

“It appears the fire damage is primarily on the second floor,” he said. “It was a good response, good crew. The fire was knocked down, everyone is accounted for.”

Firefighters from eight communities battled a blaze at an apartment in Oakland on Wednesday night. The Oakland fire chief said one person was sent to the hospital.

Bethany Stevens, who lives across High Street from the building, said she heard the sounds of windows cracking and large booms. When she went outside to look, she saw flames coming out of the second-floor windows where she believes a kitchen is located.

“I heard all the busting windows, and there were like three big boom sounds,” Stevens said. “I came out after the fact. I heard some screaming. It just went up very quick but the firefighters got here really fast, fortunately.”

A person who lives in the apartment building that burned but who did not want to give his name said someone in the building was smoking while on oxygen and that person was taken to the hospital.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @AmyCalder17


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