AUBURN — An early morning structure fire at 248 Turner St. displaced 10 children and eight adults on Saturday, according to Auburn Battalion Chief Dean Milligan.

Milligan said that around 12:50 a.m., several people called and reported that the four-unit Turner Street apartment building was engulfed in flames.

By the time firefighters arrived, Milligan said that the fire “had a good opportunity to get going.”

Auburn firefighters were assisted by the Lewiston Fire Department and several area fire departments in knocking down the fire before it could spread to adjacent buildings.

Milligan said that it took several hours to get the fire knocked down, with the last firetrucks clearing the scene “around 7 a.m.”

“It was under control well before that, but it took a while to knock down hot spots and do overhaul,” Milligan said.

All of the tenants safely evacuated the building, according to Milligan, and one firefighter was taken to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston for observation after working to knock down the fire.

The Office of State Fire Marshal was continuing to investigate the fire as of Saturday afternoon, according to Milligan, and has yet to release the cause or origin of the blaze.

“It’s not official, but it appears the fire may have started on the exterior of the building, which means it had been going for a bit before anyone got there,” Milligan said.

The Red Cross is assisting the tenants displaced by the fire.