LEWISTON — Two families and several others were scrambling to find temporary housing Thursday, a day after fire destroyed two apartment buildings and damaged a third on Pierce Street.

Fire officials said roughly 10 people were left homeless in the blaze, which started at 80 Pierce St. and quickly spread to nearby buildings.

The fire remained under investigation. Lewiston fire Inspector Paul Ouellette was being assisted by the State Fire Marshal’s Office, as well as detectives from the Lewiston Police Department.

Ouellette said the fire started in a first-floor apartment but by late in the day Thursday, no cause was released. Witnesses have said that a woman lighting a cigarette in that apartment reported that her couch caught fire and that the flames spread across her apartment.

A 68-year-old man was treated for breathing problems after running out of his apartment with a canister of oxygen. A Lisbon volunteer firefighter was hospitalized overnight with chest pains suffered while he was helping to battle the blaze. He was released from the hospital on Thursday.

The local chapter of the American Red Cross was also busy Thursday providing food, shelter and clothing for the victims as well as things like medications lost in the blaze. Jason Shedlock of the Red Cross said his workers were still trying to track down the last of the victims to make sure they were provided for if they needed assistance. The Red Cross was also helping people with mental-health issues in the wake of the fire.

“This is very traumatic for folks and for families,” Shedlock said.

Dozens of people fled their homes at about 7 p.m. Wednesday when the fire was reported. Several pets were rescued, but Ouellette said a kitten was later found dead in one of the apartments.

Ouellette said a handful of people who live at 78, 80 and 82 Pierce St. still need to be interviewed before findings are released.

Local landlord Joe Dunn owns the buildings at 78 and 80 Pierce St., Ouellette said. Both of those buildings were destroyed in the blaze. An apartment house at 82 Pierce St. sustained heavy smoke, water and fire damage, Ouellette said, and may be declared a total loss as well.

Throughout the day Thursday, moving vans were seen backed up in front of the burned apartment houses as tenants removed items that were not destroyed in the blaze.

[email protected]