BIDDEFORD — Several hundred people were standing on the streets watching as flames blazed from the top of a Green Street building, while firefighters from much of York County and parts of Cumberland County struggled to get the three-alarm fire under control.

The fire, reported around 6 p.m., at 25 Green St. ”“ a three-story, 12-unit apartment building ”“ went up quickly, according to bystanders and Fire Chief Joseph Warren.

When the first trucks arrived on the scene, the fire “was fully involved,” he said. “The flames were through the roof.”

More than 100 firefighters, 25 fire engines, four ladder trucks and five ambulances from multiple departments, some of which, in addition to Biddeford, included Saco, Sanford, Old Orchard Beach, Scarborough, Alfred, Arundel, Goodwin’s Mills, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, responded to the scene.

There were a number of difficulties in battling the fire, said Warren.

At first, he said, there wasn’t enough water from the hydrants near the building, because of the age of the water pipes, so fire hoses had to be attached to hydrants from the main water drains closer to the downtown.

Also, as ladder trucks poured water on the roof, attic and top floor of the building, that produced large amounts of smoke, which made it difficult for firefighters to see and breathe.

At around 9 p.m. when Warren spoke to the media, he said although the fire was contained to a single building, it was still going on and it was not yet safe enough for firefighters to go in and conduct a search.

The fire was knocked down around 10:30 p.m., although fire crews were kept at the scene overnight to ensure the fire didn’t reignite.

It was believed that all the tenants escaped safely; no one was reported missing.

While one of the tenants was taken to Southern Maine Health Center for observation, said David Sheehan with the American Red Cross, no one was injured.

Many of the displaced tenants went to the Health and Welfare Department in City Hall, where the American Red Cross was set up to help find shelter for the night for those who had no place to go. The Red Cross also had mental health workers on hand for those who needed emotional support.

Gloria Michaud, who lived on the second floor at 25 Green St., was one of those who went to City Hall for assistance.

“I saw flames come down, then I saw smoke,” she said as she spoke about the fire. “I just got out. I didn’t take nothing.”

Kelly Howard said she saw the flames in her apartment before they consumed the back steps, so she and her boyfriend escaped that way. However, she said, there was no fire escape, no sprinklers and although she heard fire alarms in some of the other apartments go off, hers didn’t. However, she said, she believed her fire alarm was working.

Like Michaud, she said all of her possessions were in her apartment.

“It’s all gone,” said Howard.

Many credit one of the tenants, Ben Grant, with alerting the others about the fire and helping to get them out.

Tenants said they believe the fire started in a back shed.

Fire Chief Warren said he didn’t know the cause of the fire or where it originated.

Investigators with the State Fire Marshal’s Office were on the scene, but planned to conduct the investigation today.

According to the Biddeford assessment records, the building is owned by Housing Options, LLC in Biddeford; the principals are Stephan Ryan and James Bishop.

Howard said one of the owners had come to the scene. She said they own several properties, and are hoping to place some of the tenants in some of their vacant apartments.

The building and land is appraised at $492,000.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.