HOULTON – Firefighters are questioning the cause of an early Friday morning fire on High Street that left four people homeless after finding suspicious evidence at the scene.

Houlton firefighters were called to 42 High St. at about 2:45 a.m. after receiving a report from Dorothy Hohler, who lived in the three-story apartment building, that there was smoke in the hallway. Upon arrival minutes later, firefighters and police found heavy smoke coming from the eaves of the three-story building. The building was successfully evacuated, with no injuries to any of the residents.

Firefighters from Houlton and Hodgdon fought the fire for almost five hours.

Paramedics with the Houlton ambulance treated three firefighters at the scene for minor injuries – one for something in his eye and the others for heat exhaustion.

The fire proved to be difficult to fight because of a double roof that allowed the fire to progress throughout the third-floor area into ceiling and wall spaces.

Firefighters working from an aerial ladder cut several large holes in the roof to vent heat and smoke so firefighters inside could make headway against the fire.

An apartment on the third floor was destroyed, and apartments on the first and second floors had extensive smoke and water damage. The building reportedly is owned by David Saucier, residence unknown.

Firefighters said Friday that evidence was found in a hallway outside the third-floor apartment that led them to believe the fire’s cause was suspicious.

Scott Richardson, an investigator with the State Fire Marshal’s Office, said late Friday afternoon the fire was still under investigation.

During the fire, a local man was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly getting into a dispute with a resident of the apartment and police. Gene Potter, 40, was arrested by Cpl. Dana Duff of the Houlton Police Department and taken to the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton. Potter later was released on personal recognizance bail, according to Lt. Daniel Pelletier.