NEWS | Biddeford firefighters respond to a second porch fire this week

MEDIA ADVISORY | Biddeford Fire Department

The Biddeford Fire Department responded to a “porch fire” that took place Wednesday evening on Clifford Street in Biddeford.

According to a media statement, firefighters arrived on scene shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday and found smoke coming from the outside porches of a three-story wood frame apartment building at 25 Clifford Street.

Officials say that the fire had extended into the wall of the apartment building on the first floor and below the floor of the porches.

**FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND** to a porch fire on Clifford Street, Biddeford on Wednesday | *Contributed photo*

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A passerby also attempted to extinguish the fire with a garden hose prior to the arrival of firefighters from Biddeford and several other communities.

The fire was primarily contained to the porches with some smoke extending into all the apartments.

All the building occupants had evacuated just prior to the arrival of firefighters.

The apartment building was evaluated for safety by both the city’s Code Enforcement Department and Fire Department, and it was determined the occupants could return to their apartments for the night if they choose to do so.

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

In the wake of the incident – the 12th call for emergency service on Wednesday –fire officials are reminding residents to be cautious, saying this incident was the second porch fire in Biddeford this week.

“Please remember fire safety and proper disposal of any smoking materials. Also, please remember that working smoke detectors save lives. Make sure yours are in place and working, a department spokesperson said.

“We have had three close calls this week with building fires that could have easily ended in a tragedy if the fires had not been noticed early by those that lived there and everyone was sleeping.”

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