OXFORD — The Maine chapter of the American Red Cross remained busy Saturday, helping residents of 40 units at Oxford Meadow Apartments senior housing complex recover from an early-morning fire that ripped through several apartments.

Three residents were taken to local hospitals on Saturday. 

According to Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland, 85-year-old Theresa Heino died as a result of the blaze. Virginia Brown, 65, remains in critical condition at Stephens Memorial Hospital, according to a release from the Maine Department of Public Safety.

The fire started in a common area of the main building and destroyed that room, sending thick smoke throughout the building. Smoke detectors were working. The building, because of its age, did not have, nor require, fire sprinklers.

State Fire Marshal investigators continue to investigate the cause and will call in an electrical inspector on Monday.

Several other victims of the fire are still alive, thanks to quick work from first responders.

Oxford fire officials say eight other people were saved by breaking and escaping through windows on the first and second floors of the building.

Frantie Giasson was among those who were saved.

“She tried to open her door and leave that way but she couldn’t — it was too hot,” Giasson’s daughter said. “But the firefighters carried her down the ladder. They broke down her window.”

The firefighters saved Giasson and her dog, Cricket.

“They’re amazing, the fire department,” Giasson’s daughter said. “They save your mom’s life — that’s a big deal.” 

Residents were initially taken by bus to the local high school, where cots, blankets, water and food had been set up.

A family resource center was set up Saturday at the Inn Town Motel in Norway, where Red Cross organizer Justin Burkhardt was helping displaced residents find shelter, clothing and a place to lay down.

“The first part (for the residents) is the shock — ‘There’s a fire I need to get out,'” Burkhardt said. “Then it’s, ‘Now where do I go? What’s next?’

“We help facilitate what’s next,” he added. “It’s a collaborative effort with the local emergency teams — fire, police, medic.”

For example, Burkhardt said many of the residents have prescriptions, and if those medications were left behind in the fire, they’re contaminated and unusable, even if they weren’t destroyed.

The Red Cross was helping to replace these contaminated prescriptions and offer other relief services.

Oxford Meadow Apartments officials had no comment Saturday afternoon when asked about the fire amid the cleanup. They said a release would be forthcoming.

The complex is managed by Speedway Inc. Madison Avenue Associates, which is owned by Robert P. Bahre, former owner of the Oxford Plains Speedway and the New Hampshire Motor Speedway and an investor in the Oxford Casino, which was sold to Churchill Downs in 2013.

The company operates several apartment complexes for the eldery and the disabled around the state.

This story will be updated.

How to help

The resource center at the Inn Town Motel in Norway will be open for the next two days with 25-30 staff members and volunteers to help those affected by Saturday’s fire at Oxford Meadow Apartments senior living complex. Victims of the fire can call their resource number 24/7 at 877-372-7363. To help or donate, visit maineredcross.org.