PORTLAND, Maine — Police and fire investigators are examining a possible arson after an early morning fire Monday at an apartment building on Bishop Street.
According to authorities, the Portland Fire Department responded at approximately 2:43 a.m. on March 16, 2026, to a fire alarm at Huston Commons, located at 72 Bishop Street. When the first fire units arrived on scene, they observed smoke coming from a third-floor apartment unit inside the building.
Firefighters located a small fire within the unit and were able to extinguish it quickly.
Investigators from the Portland Fire Department responded to the scene and began working alongside the Portland Police Department to determine the cause of the fire.
During the course of the investigation, detectives with the Portland Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division discovered suspicious materials inside the apartment. The discovery prompted a response from the department’s Hazardous Device Unit (HDU).
After examining the materials, the Hazardous Device Unit determined that there was no threat, allowing investigators to safely continue their work at the scene.
Authorities say it appears the occupant of the apartment attempted to escape the building by lowering himself from a third-floor window using sheets tied together. The man ultimately fell to the ground and was transported to Maine Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
The investigation into the suspected arson remains ongoing, and officials say charges are pending.
Police are asking anyone with information that may assist investigators in this or any other case to contact the Portland Police Department at 207-874-8575. Individuals may also submit information anonymously by texting the keyword PPDME and their message to 847411.
