Portland building owner cited before overnight fire
The owner of a multi-story building in Portland’s Old Port had several unresolved fire safety violations at the time a three-alarm fire erupted early Thursday morning and displaced five businesses.
The Portland Press Herald reported that Joseph Soley and property manager P.J. Roberts had not responded to 11 code violations city inspectors found in April. City spokeswoman Nicole Clegg told the paper the city set a 32-day deadline from May 6 to comply with the code and had, up until the Thursday fire, been trying to contact Soley and Roberts for months.
Nobody was injured in the fire, which firefighters believe originated in the basement of the Dancing Elephant II restaurant. Eight people were evacuated from apartments on the second and third floors of the building. The displaced businesses include the restaurant Street and Co., Joe’s New York Pizza, Urban Dwellings and Old Port Candy Co. Officials said it could be weeks before tenants and businesses can return.
Firefighters said late Thursday they had not identified the cause of the fire, but said they do not suspect foul play.
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