LEWISTON — The United Valley American Red Cross is looking for a new director.

Laurie Levine, who ran the local chapter for four years, retired in November. The nonprofit is now conducting a national search to find her replacement.

Dave Thompson, CEO for the American Red Cross in Maine, hopes to have the position filled by mid-February. Until then, he is overseeing the local chapter, which serves Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Kennebec, Oxford, Somerset and York counties.

Levine has remained with the Red Cross as a disaster services volunteer. 

The organization helps people prepare for emergencies and provides relief to the victims of house fires, earthquakes, hurricanes and other disasters. It saw a 20 percent increase in the assistance it provided to Mainers last year. Recently, the Maine Red Cross has seen an increase in apartment fires and other fires that affect more than one family.

The United Valley office is at 1180 Lisbon St.