SANFORD — Fire Marshal Patrick Cotter of Sanford said a fire at a Main Street building that houses Republicash and Thai Sawasdee restaurant started in a storage room at the rear of the building.
Cotter, at the scene on Wednesday morning, said the cause remains under investigation, and that the fire is considered accidental. He said the fire started in the storage area on the wall that separated the two businesses.
The businesses were closed and there was no one inside when the fire in the 789 Main St. building was reported by a passing motorist at 3:37 a.m.
The motorist told authorities he smelled smoke, pulled into the parking lot of the building and called the fire department to report he thought he saw smoke through the window, said Sanford Fire Capt. Brian Watkins.
The passerby was correct.
“When we arrived at 3:38 a.m., there was a haze of smoke visible and smoke coming through the eaves,” said Watkins.
Watkins said firefighters found fire on the first floor, in a storage room at the rear of the building and that the fire was extending into the attic space.
A second alarm was called for extra manpower, because of fire and smoke conditions and the building housed commercial businesses, said Watkins. He said firefighters had to open the roof and dig out the fire.
No one was injured.
Firefighters left the scene at around 5:45 a.m.
Assisting Sanford were firefighters from Alfred, Acton, Kennebunk, Lebanon and Wells.
Main Street was closed while firefighters worked because of hose lines stretched across the roadway.
Cotter said both businesses are likely to be closed for an undetermined amount of time. While the fire damage wasn’t heavy, there is water damage inside the two businesses, he said, and repairs will need to be made to the holes in the roof.
According to Sanford property records, the building is owned by Repcash Properties LLC, which has a South Portland address. Repcash Properties LLC purchased the circa 1930 building in 2008. It was formerly a sporting goods store.
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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