AUBURN — Ten people displaced by a fast-moving fire that destroyed an apartment building early Saturday at 3 Fairmount Ave. have found temporary housing and are slowly rebuilding their lives, a Red Cross spokesman said Monday.
Tenants from three of the building’s units were at home at the time of the blaze, which fire investigators blamed on an unattended candle. No injuries were reported.
Auburn Fire Department called Central and Midcoast Maine Red Cross volunteers, who responded to the scene at roughly 2 a.m. Saturday for support services to the fire victims, said Eric Lynes, disaster program manager in the regional office that covers four area counties, including Androscoggin.
“The families really lost everything, including personal possessions and pictures and memorabilia that is really difficult to replace,” Lynes said.
Although the Red Cross can’t bring back those items, it can ensure that “their physical and emotional needs are taken care of,” Lynes said.
The nonprofit agency provided short-term housing at a local hotel for those tenants who don’t have family members who can take them in. It has helped the displaced tenants buy clothing and food as well, Lynes said.
His office also helped with referrals to other local agencies that can assist the fire victims with other services. Lynes said he has been assisting those who lost important documents, such as driver’s licenses, credit cards and medication prescriptions, go about the process of replacing them. The displaced tenants have been helped in contacting utility companies to suspend billing and services, Lynes said.
On Monday, a mother and her 9-year-old child who lived in one of the apartments, but had been out-of-state over the weekend, were referred to the agency for aid services, Lynes said.
Helping a typical family of four get back on their feet after losing a home to fire costs in the range of $650 to $1,200, Lynes said.
For information about donations or volunteering, call 207-795-4004, ext. 303 or write to eric.lynes@redcross.org.
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