SOUTH PORTLAND — Police and fire officials have launched a criminal investigation into the cause of a suspicious fire this morning at an apartment building.

Fire Chief Kevin Guimond said it was the second suspicious fire in eight days at the building, at 1046 Broadway.

This morning's fire started outside the four-unit building at about 4 a.m. and caused some damage inside before it was extinguished. Residents of the three-story building were evacuated, but there were no injuries, he said.

"It was out relatively quickly, but it does concern us," he said.

The earlier fire started in the living room of one of the units at about 2 a.m.
Guimond said police were interviewing the tenants of the building in connection with the investigation.