Noyes Street fire kills four in Portland

PORTLAND - Four people died, another was seriously injured, and several others were missing after a fire swept through an apartment house early Saturday, Nov. 1, at 20-24 Noyes St.

Photo: Courtesy Carol Schiller

Photo: Courtesy Carol Schiller

Photo: Courtesy Carol Schiller

The three-alarm fire, near the University of Southern Maine in the city's Oakdale neighborhood, was reported at 7:17 a.m., according to state Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland.

The injured survivor was treated at Maine Medical Center and taken to a Boston burn center. He escaped by jumping from a second-story window, according to McCausland.

Names of the victims were not immediately available.

Fire marshals were still trying to account for three or four other people who were at the two-unit house during a Halloween party last night, McCausland said Saturday afternoon.

Two of the victims who died were found on the second floor of the structure, and two on the third floor. The house was built in 1920 and is owned by Gregory Nisbet, according to city records.

The occupants of the house were described as USM students.

A support center for friends and family was being set up at the USM Woodbury Campus Center at 35 Bedford St.

David Harry can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 110 or dharry@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidHarry8.